India sets up INR 10,000 crore plan for Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Q. India has announced an ambitious INR 10,000 crore plan to transform which part of the country?- Published on 28 Sep 15a. Dadra and Nagra Haveil
b. Daman and Diu
c. Lakshwadeep
d. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
ANSWER: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
India has formed an ambitious INR 10,000 crore plan for transforming Andaman and Nicobar islands into the first maritime hub of the country. It will create a base for infrastructure including expanded dry dock and ship repair facilities in Port Blair. The plan also includes protection of Jarawa inhabitants while improving the tourism potential for attractions such as mud volcanoes and limestone caves. A 15 year perspective plan developed for shipping and port infrastructure on the islands. Safe berthing and docking capacity facilities will also be improved in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. GoI also sanctioned an INR 50 crore project on the development of a sea route from Port Blair to Baratang, one of the islands and home to the mud volcanoes. 23 sites has been discovered for port development with 7 of these being small facilities. The islands are a chain of 572 of which slightly more than 30 are inhabited. The islands are 0.2% of the land mass of the country and provide for 30% of 200 nautical mile EEZ.
