Sarbananda Sonowal Dedicates Key Maritime Projects at 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal dedicated key maritime projects to the nation during the 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival. The former CM of Assam announced two new lighthouses at Chaumuck and Dhamra on Odisha's coastline, as well as the 'New Kalwan Lighthouse' in Jamnagar, Gujarat, along with Stacker-cum-Reclaimant and a Flyover at the Paradip Port Authority, Odisha. Under PM Shri Narendra Modi's visionary leadership, Lighthouse Tourism has soared by more than 400% since 2014.

The festival also featured beach activities like Sand Art, Boat Art competition, and Yoga sessions. The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, joined Sonowal at the Valedictory Session of the Festival. Assam and Odisha share close spiritual, historical, cultural, and commercial ties, with Srimanta Sankardeva, Lakshminath Bezbarua, and Bholanath Barooah strengthening it over the years.

According to PIB, Sarbananda Sonowal has announced that that the coastal communities of India would be developed as societies to enable and empower the communities within the vicinity of lighthouses. This effort is aimed at community engagement to take pride in the lighthouses for their preservation, protection, and promotion. A central association of all these societies would be created to give a national momentum to celebrate the lighthouse as national icons as cultural heritage and legacy of India's rich maritime sector.

The new Kalwan Reef Lighthouse at Jamnagar in Gujarat and two projects in Padadip Port, Odisha, such as Stacker-cum-Reclaimant & a Flyover bridge were inaugurated. Sonowal also led a Swachata Abhiyan at Niladri Beach, where the collective effort led to the removal of garbage.

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The union minister further stated that the Indian Lighthouse Festival has been receiving laurels from all quarters of the country as they continue to bolster facilities for tourists to have memorable experiences at these monuments. Under PM Shri Narendra Modi's visionary leadership, the government is taking steps to realize the full potential of India's rich cultural heritage and historical legacy in propelling economic growth.