PSUs roped in to help boost Island tourism

New Delhi: Aiming to develop several inhabited islands under the administration of Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) and Lakshadweep as tourism hubs which will enable them to become centres of robust maritime economy, the Niti Aayog will soon finalise guidelines to allow public sector undertakings (PSUs) to participate in the process of developing these islands. The government think tank is learnt to have prepared preliminary rules to facilitate entry of private entities also in the process. In addition to this, the Centre even wants to cover uninhabited islands for development.

Highly placed sources informed this newspaper that the Island Development Agency (IDA) headed by home minister Rajnath Singh, is overseeing the entire process of developing these islands into eco-tourism hubs. During recent consultations held by the IDA with Niti Aayog officials, it was decided that PSUs as well as private sector should be allowed to participate in the entire plan and they can do so through a transparent bidding process.

It is reliably learnt that while nine inhabited islands under A&N and Lakshadweep administration have been identified by IDA for development, the Centre is keen that even uninhabited islands should also be brought under the purview of the scheme. There are plans to develop several islands in Little Andaman also as tourist hubs and maritime economic centres in future, sources further informed. Once the guidelines for participation of PSUs and private entities are finalised by the IDA, it will be facilitated through a bidding process, they added. The detailed master plans for these identified islands are also said to have been prepared with the help of Niti Aayog