India has outlined an infrastructure enhancement plan worth over Rs 3,600 crore to turn the Lakshadweep islands into a tourist destination. This plan includes, among other things, the development of additional ports, peripheral roads, and beachfront facilities.
The Androth, Kalpeni, and Kadamat islands’ port infrastructure would be renovated, according to the same study. Furthermore, Kadamat Island (East), Agatti Island (East), and Kavaratti Island will also have beachfront and ancillary roads built.”
The official went on to say that funding for this and other projects will come from the Sagarmala plan, which is intended to develop ports.
Sagarmala, the main central sector program of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, was introduced in July 2015 with the objective of promoting port-led development throughout the nation.
Its main objective is to take advantage of India’s long coastline, easily navigable rivers, and advantageous maritime location on global commerce routes. Financial support is given to projects under Sagarmala that have a strong social benefit but low internal rates of return or restricted returns.
Also read: ‘Moments of pure bliss’ PM Modi goes snorkeling in Lakshadweep.
For the 36 Lakshadweep islands, which span 32 square kilometers and are located in the Arabian Sea between 220-440 kilometers off the coast of Kerala, a total of 13 projects have been identified.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had emphasized in her interim budget speech the need to improve tourism infrastructure and services on islands, particularly Lakshadweep, in order to meet the increasing demand for domestic travel and create jobs.
Attention was drawn to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s early January visit to Lakshadweep and the social media posts that followed that highlighted the area’s natural beauty. But insulting remarks against the prime minister made by three Maldivian deputy ministers provoked protests, demands for a boycott of the Maldives, and recommendations to travel to Lakshadweep instead.
Even with its natural charm, Lakshadweep does not yet have the facilities to handle big numbers of visitors.
