During the 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal dedicated key maritime projects to the nation.

The Union Minister dedicated the new Kalwan Lighthouse in Jamnagar, Gujarat, along with a stacker-cum-reclaimer and a flyover at Odisha's Paradip Port Authority.

He also announced two new lighthouses: one at Chaumuck, Narayanpur, Balasore district; the other at Dhamra, Bhadrak district.

Sonowal said that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways would take necessary steps to enable the coastal communities around the lighthouses to preserve and promote the rich heritage of India’s maritime sector.

“The coastal communities of the country would be developed as societies in order to enable and empower the communities within the vicinity of lighthouses. The effort is aimed at community engagement to take pride in the lighthouses for their preservation, protection, and promotion,” he said.

The Union Minister said that a central association of all these societies would be created to give a national momentum to celebrate the lighthouses as national icons as the cultural heritage and legacy of India’s rich maritime sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “The Indian Lighthouse Festival or Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav has been receiving laurels from all quarters of the country as we continue our effort to further bolster facilities for the tourists - both domestic and foreign - for a memorable experience at these wonderful monuments.”

“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is taking all steps to realise the full potential of India’s rich cultural heritage as well as its historical legacy in propelling the economic growth of the country. Modiji’s call for an Atmanirbhar Bharat has resonated well with people and we, the Ministry, remain committed to usher in a new chapter of growth in India’s blue economy,” he added.

The two-day festival showcased the rich maritime history of India through various cultural programmes and events.