PM Modi launches 2,300-km undersea optical fibre cable for Andamans

He said the four ships being built at Kochi shipyard will be soon delivered to improve the water connectivity between the islands and the mainland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a submarine optical fibre cable (OFC) connecting Andaman & Nicobar Islands to the mainland, which will allow access to cheap and better telecom connectivity in the Union Territory. The Prime Minister had laid the foundation for connecting Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Islands (CANI) with optical fibre on December 30, 2018. As part of the project, 2,300-km submarine cable was laid. Services began on Monday on a major chunk of the islands from Chennai to Port Blair, Port Blair to Little Andaman and Port Blair to Swaraj Island.

The Prime Minister said the Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands felt the need for years but no steps were taken to fulfil it. “Providing better and cheap connectivity to the people of Andaman & Nicobar Islands is the responsibility of the country,” Modi said. The PM said the government is committed to provide modern facilities to every citizen and every sector so that there can be a better ease of living.

He further said A&N will be developed as a hub of port led development as it is at a competitive distance from many ports of the World. The PM said the government’s focus is also on promoting ease of business in the sea and simplifying maritime logistics. He referred to the construction of the deep draft inner harbor and the proposal to construct trans shipment port in Great Nicobar at an estimated cost of about Rs 10,000 crore.