Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 14 July 2024
Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Vice-Chairman of the Islands Development Agency, held significant meetings with top Union Ministers in New Delhi to discuss vital issues related to the development of the islands.
During his meeting with Hon’ble Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Jagat Prakash Nadda, Admiral Joshi extended his congratulations and best wishes for a successful tenure. Highlighting the unique challenges posed by the islands’ remote location and sparse population spread over a vast territory, Admiral Joshi requested special measures to upgrade the medical infrastructure. He emphasized the need for improved healthcare and family welfare schemes, specialized medical facilities, and the deployment of super-specialists to the islands to reduce the number of referral cases sent to the mainland.
In another significant engagement, Admiral Joshi called on Hon’ble Finance Minister of India, Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman, congratulating her on her second consecutive term and wishing her continued success. He urged the Finance Minister to expedite the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPAC) approval for four mega tourism and hospitality projects on Long Island, Aves Island, Smith Island, and Shaheed Dweep. These projects have completed all codal formalities and are ready for tendering.
Admiral Joshi also briefed the Finance Minister on major infrastructure projects soon to be launched by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, including an International Container Transhipment Terminal, two new Greenfield Airports, a Deep-Water Port at Atlanta Bay, and several high-end hotels. He proposed a series of financial, banking, and tax initiatives to position the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a preferred global investment destination.