The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated India’s First Lighthouse Festival from the Fort Aguada Lighthouse in Panjim, Goa.
Key points
The three days festival celebrated across all the lighthouses in the country in an effort to transform these historic spots as tourist destinations.
- India’s first ever Lighthouse Festival was held at the historic Fort Aguada in Goa from 23rd-25th September, 2023.
- The government is aiming to leverage the Indian Lighthouse Festival to shore up base for Public Private Partnership route to develop the historic into world class tourist destinations.
- The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships has already identified 75 such lighthouses, and this festival is a testament to the commitment of the government to celebrate and preserve our maritime heritage.
- As a part of the Reform to Transform initiative, the Union Government enacted the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 by repealing the Lighthouse Act, 1927 to provide a framework for development, maintenance and management of aids to navigation in India.
- Under this, government introduced the innovative concept of Heritage Lighthouse wherein the central government may designate any aid to navigation under its control as a heritage lighthouse.
