Government to develop 78 lighthouses on its own because of environmental issues.
India plans to convert 78 lighthouses in scenic coastal areas into tourism hubs, with facilities such as elevators to go atop the lighthouse, coastal and water sports, ayurvedic centers and speed boats along with cruise-style eateries.
The government was earlier looking to develop these under PPP but is now doing on its own because of environmental reasons.
In the first phase of the project, the Nitin Gadkari-led shipping ministry is in process of identifying 10 lighthouses that are along coastal highways and can attract good footfall.
The government plans to join hands with private partners to set up tourist facilities and maintain infrastructure for water sports along with eateries. The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, a subordinate office under the shipping ministry, will install the elevators, said a senior ministry official.
Among the lighthouses likely to be converted into tourism hubs are those in Alleppey, Rameshwaram, North Point in Port Blair, Dwarka, Mandvi, False Point near Paradip, Muttom near Kanyakumari, Kanhoji Angre Island near Mumbai port and Minicoy in Lakshadweep.
The project is part of the ministry's efforts to boost coastal tourism in the country, officials said. Under the coastal tourism development plan, the ministry is already setting up a cruise terminal in Mumbai.
India has more than 180 small and big lighthouses which have thousands of acres of land that can be utilized. Earlier, the government wanted to lease out the lighthouse land bank to private players to construct hotels.
However, the proposal was junked because of environmental issues.
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02-2026
