Sri Vijaya Puram | January 28, 2026
Tarun Karthick
Former Governing Body Member of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, Mr. S U Maheswar Rao, has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah, Member of Parliament for A&N Islands Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, and the Ministry of Fisheries, Government of India, for approving the ₹199.24-crore Smart & Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with 100 per cent central funding.
In a statement, Mr. Rao described the approval as a historic milestone for the fisheries sector in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, stating that it fulfils a long-standing demand of the fishermen community for deep-sea fishing infrastructure in the region.
Recalling his role as a Governing Body Member of NFDB, Mr. Rao said that during the 10th Governing Body Meetings held at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, he had consistently approached the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and NFDB, Hyderabad, highlighting the urgent need for the development of deep-sea fishing facilities and a dedicated deep-sea fishing harbour in the Islands.
“The approval of the Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder is the outcome of sustained efforts and reflects the Government of India’s commitment to strengthening fisheries infrastructure in remote and strategic regions like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” he said.
On behalf of the fishermen community of the Islands, Mr. Rao conveyed his appreciation to the Ministry of Fisheries, NFDB, Hyderabad, and the Andaman and Nicobar Administration for their coordinated efforts. He noted that the project is expected to significantly enhance fish landing capacity, improve safety and operational efficiency, generate employment, and boost the livelihoods of fishermen.
The Smart & Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder, approved under PMMSY, is envisioned as a modern, technology-enabled facility aligned with the Blue Port Initiative, and is expected to play a crucial role in the sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the Islands.
