Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan. 27 2025:
Impressive parade, colourful cultural programme, presentation of Medals and Lt. Governor’s Commendation Certificates marked the 76th Republic Day celebration in A&N Islands yesterday. The main function for the Republic Day was held at the Marina Park road stretch wherein the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands & Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency, Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) unfurled the National Flag. The function was attended by the First Lady of the Islands, Smt. Chitra Joshi, CINCAN, Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, AVSM, VM, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, DGP, Shri H.G.S Dhaliwal, IPS, Senior Officers of Defence & Civil Administration, public representatives and general public.
In his Republic Day address to the Islanders, the Lt. Governor greeted the Islanders on the auspicious occasion of 76th Republic Day. The Lt. Governor said, “during this ‘Amrit Kaal’ of India’s Independence, I pay my heartfelt tributes to those heroes whose sacrifice has established us as a strong Republic and today, we are rapidly moving towards becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’. He highlighted several key achievements and initiatives undertaken in A&N Islands under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister & IDA.
The Lt. Governor said that it is a matter of unprecedented pride for all the islanders that the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, while making several references to our Islands in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program on 19th January, on the achievement of getting the GI tag to Nicobari Virgin Coconut Oil including six other products of A&N Islands. The Prime Minister also appreciated the SHGs of A&N Islands, especially the contribution of Tribal Community Women.
The Lt. Governor stated that the initiative for filling application for seven products of A&N Islands facilitated by NABARD for GI tagging registration commenced on 29-04-2024. In this regard, the Controller General, Intellectual Property Rights met me in Raj Niwas. The seven products are viz. Nicobari Virgin Coconut Oil, Nicobari Mat, Nicobari Hut, Nicobari Hodi, Padauk Wood Craft, Andaman Karen Musley Rice and Andaman Nicobar Coconut. After completion of all the codal formalities, all these seven products received the GI tag on 4th December, 2024, which is a historic initiative for the Islands, the Lt. Governor said.
The Lt. Governor mentioned that under the able guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Islands Development Agency (IDA), the transformational projects for the development of the Islands have got new pace. He further informed that the seventh meeting of IDA was held on January 3, 2025, under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Union Home Minister, in which many decisions related to Islands development were taken. Among the new projects, the most important decision was taken in the context of Little Andaman, which after the experience of GNI’s ambitious project, along with many other transformative projects will be implemented on PPP mode and in Tourism and Hospitality Sector. Little Andaman will be developed as Surfing Capital in Indian Ocean Region besides as a hub for medi city and seaplane operation.
The Lt. Governor remarked that A&N Administration is committed towards timely implementation of major decisions regarding 100% power generation from renewable energy by the year 2029, 100% coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme by the year 2027, study of health condition and need of medical experts in the Islands to be completed in the next 2 months, Odisha-Diglipur Optical fiber project, flag hoisting and drone photography on all the Islands.
The Lt. Governor highlighted that in the last 6-7 years, an investment of more than Rs 1.05 lakh crore has been made under IDA projects, as a result of which, 15 out of 44 projects (34%) have been completed. The CANI Submarine OFC Project and Azad Hind Fauj Setu on Humphrey Strait were the ambitious projects that have proved to be Game Changer in overall development of A&N Islands. The remaining 29 projects (66%) are also moving towards completion. Concerted efforts of the A&N Administration have yielded for up-gradation of helicopter fleet in Islands, 4 Sikorsky helicopters with 12 passengers capacity have arrived in Sri Vijaya Puram and will be used in regular flights after completion of other codal formalities. Our effort for International flight operations bore fruits with first flight operation between Kuala Lumpur-Sri Vijaya Puram started in Nov. 16,2024. Starting of the International flight has brought a paradigm shift in the Air Connectivity in these Islands.
Lt. Governor disclosed that Fixed Wing Aircraft services under RCS-UDAN will commence soon in Sri Vijaya Puram-Shibpur sector. Security vetting of the terminal at Car Nicobar has been completed and the construction work of the Civil Passenger Terminal building at Campbell Bay Airport is likely to be completed by April, 2025. To strengthen Air Connectivity in the Islands and to connect Sri Vijaya Puram with Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep and Long Island, Sea-Plane demo was successfully carried out on Nov. 17, 2024. The bid process to finalize the agency for the operation of Sea Plane is expected to be completed by March, 2025. In Tourism, Hospitality and Services Sector, the revised Draft DPRs for Megapode and 4 Islands project have been shared with MHA for PPPAC/SFC approval.
Mentioning about the IDA Clearance projects, the Lt. Governor informed that under the guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, more than Rs. 92,000 crores in the GNI Project, especially PPP Mode investments-International Container Transhipment Terminal, Power Plant and Township will be undertaken which will establish A&N Islands as an economic hub and also prove to be a force-multiplier in establishing India’s dominance in the Indo-Pacific Region. In this sequence, GNI Power Plant’s DPR and Township’s updated Draft Master Plan will be completed by June 2025. Apart from this, further action after Final Site Selection and LIDAR Survey for the new Greenfield Airport in Sri Vijaya Puram is under progress. The tender for the 50 MW LNG Plant in Sri Vijaya Puram has been done by PSU NVVN of Power Ministry and this work will be completed soon.
The Lt. Governor remarked that there are several projects which will have a far-reaching impact on the economy of the Islands. These include policies made to promote bird watching, caravans and luxury tents as tourism activities and SoP to introduce Day Tourism in Cinque Island. The new logo of Andaman and Nicobar was released on November 22, 2024.
The Lt. Governor also emphasized on the key initiatives by the A&N Administration. He said, under the Berozgar Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, 4958 youth were given appointment letters in different Departments. In three, out of the four Rozgar Melas, A&N Islands was on the first place in the country in distributing largest appointment letters. The entire recruitment process was completed in a very transparent manner and not a single complaint was received, the Lt. Governor added.
The Lt. Governor informed that the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences has given approval to ANIIMS to run DNB courses in 05 Specialist and these Courses have started from this academic session. Affiliation has been received to start Post Graduate Courses in 06 Departments in ANIIMS for the Educational Year 2025-26. MV Shompen was re-inducted as a Hospital Vessel on 20th September, 2024 to provide medical care to Inter-Island patients, he added.
The Lt. Governor further stated that an MoU on seaweed and cage culture was signed on 23.10.2024 between UT Administration and CSIR-NIOT and demonstration was given on the project established at Chidiyatapu.
In the Shipping Sector, ship to ship transfer at Port Meadows and ship Construction/Repair Hub proposal have been undertaken. The pre-feasibility report by IIT Chennai has been completed for the Atlanta Bay Deep Water Port.
With the assistance of Andaman Nicobar Command, the A&N Police Administration seized approximately 5500 kgs of banned Methamphetamine drug along with a Portable Inmarsat Satellite phone from a Myanmar Fishing boat in Andaman Sea on November 25, 2024.
The Lt. Governor said, Police Administration of the Islands has earned 02 Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence. In the 68th National School Track Cycling Championship held in Jharkhand, the Under-17 team of the Islands achieved a remarkable achievement by winning Gold medal in the track cycling event in the girl’s category.
The Lt. Governor extended his best wishes to the Marching Contingents, school children and other participants of the cultural programme. He also congratulated all the award winners and hoped that their commitment towards social service will become stronger in future. The Lt. Governor also expressed his gratitude to the Andaman and Nicobar Command under the leadership of CINCAN, which has always provided prompt assistance to the Civil Administration whenever required.
The Lt. Governor appreciated the work being done by the A&N Administration under the leadership of Chief Secretary, DGP and PCCF and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the public representatives of various parties and citizens who have given their valuable support to the Administration.
Concluding his Republic Day speech, the Lt. Governor assured that he and his Administration is fully committed for the all-round development of the Islands so that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can play its role in realizing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s dream of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Earlier, the Lt. Governor presented President’s Police Medals and Lt. Governor’s Commendation Certificates to the recipients for their outstanding contribution in the field of Sports, Health and Environment.
In the march past, contingents of Defence Forces, Forest, Police, NCC contingents, School (Boys & Girls) participated. Different Departments of A&N Administration displayed their development activities through presentation of Tableaux. The highlight of this year’s Republic Day celebration was the ‘Dare Devil Bike Show’ by IRBn. Cultural programme by school children added grandeur to the Republic Day function. The main function of the Republic Day concluded with the National Anthem.
