Incredible India is about to become even more incredible. The Indian government is now planning to develop as many as 1,000 islands and some 300 lighthouses to boost tourism in the country. The government plans to approach the Parliament with a bill which entails converting 101 rivers into waterways. This will, in turn, help develop islands and lighthouses for the purpose of tourism.
The project will be carried out on a public-private partnership (PPP) model and a sum of Rs. 50,000 crore will be allocated for the purpose. Out of the 101 waterways planned so far, detailed project reports (DPRs) for 16 are likely to be finished by this month. A pact on transportation of goods through waterways is likely to be signed between India and Bangladesh when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the country in June this year.
The government has also planned to establish 4 multi-nodal hubs at Haldia, Varanasi, Kolkata, and Sahebganj. The bill also entails construction of shipbuilding yards and repair hubs in Andaman and Nicobar, Assam, and Kandla in Gujarat. Development of water infrastructure is a pressing issue in the country. The entire project will also augment water infrastructure in India.
Tourism in India drives the country’s growth and is a key driver in the country’s foreign exchange earnings. During the period 2013-2023, tourism sector’s direct contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is pitched to grow at about 7.8 per cent per annum. Modi government’s move of developing a thousand islands along with 300 lighthouses will surely prove to be a major boost to tourism sector in the country. But a familiar question regarding execution of plans and policies continues to haunt India. On paper, the idea does promise sound growth for water infrastructure and tourism. But as always, policy implementation must also keep pace with ideation.
(Featured Image Credit: Reuters)
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