SUDHIR KUMAR / NEW DELHI
While inaugurating 2300 kilometre submarine optical fibre cable network between Chennai and Andaman and Nicobar Islands today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that this project is Union government’s commitment for Ease of living.
Saying this project will boost tourism in the Islands, Prime Minister expressed happiness over completion of the project before deadline. Mr Modi said this was an Independence Day gift for the people of Andaman and Nicobar islands . He said not only Andaman people will get a big boost but also sea trade will rise exponentially.
Mr Modi said, high speed net in Andaman and Nicobar islands is a big day as the people will get all the benefits of digital India. Saying connectivity is part of tourism growth, Prime minister emphasised the tourists who will travel to the Islands will also be benefitted by the digital initiative. Prime Minister said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands felt the need for years but no steps were taken to fulfil it. He expressed his happiness for being able to deliver the project notwithstanding such major challenges. The Prime Minister said providing better and cheap connectivity to the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the responsibility of the country.
Mr Modi said the Submarine Cable is one such effort to prove that Andaman and Nicobar Islands are not far away from Delhi and from the Hearts of the Mainland. He said the Government is committed to the speedy development of national security linked border areas and island states. The Prime Minister said that the Indian Ocean has been the center of India’s trade and strategic prowess for thousands of years and that Andaman and Nicobar is an important centre for India’s Economic-Strategic Cooperation. He said all the Islands of India would be playing an important role under India’s new trade strategy for Indo-Pacific region.
Mr Modi said under the Act-East policy, the role of Andaman and Nicobar in India’s strong relations with East Asian countries and other countries connected to the sea is very high and is going to increase. Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was also present on the occasion. This cable project is running 2313 kilometre under-sea between Chennai and Portblair at the cost of rupees 1 thousand 2 hundred 24 Crore.
Seven islands of Andaman and Nicobar islands other than Portblair are connected namely Swaraj Dweep, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Great Nicobar, Long Island, and Rangat. This will boost digital services like tele-education, tele-health, e-governance services and toursim on the island.