As part of its ambitious plan to promote lighthouses as tourism destinations five lighthouses on the coast of Andhra Pradesh have been identified by the Director General of Lighthouses and Lightships.
The DGLL has identified lighthouses at Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district, Santapalli in Vizianagaram District, Sacramento, Vakalapudi and Antharvedi in East Godavari district for development as tourism destinations, which are to be developed in a public-private partnership. This is a part of the overall plan to develop 78 lighthouses in the country as centres of tourism in the first phase under PPP mode.
The DGLL proposes to promote tourism at these locations by developing a heritage themed resort, sound and light / animation show, viewing gallery, restaurant or food court, information centre, souvenir outlet and amphitheatre for live performing arts, among others. The DGLL is proposing to organise a road show in Visakhapatnam on Saturday to help get interested parties submit their expression of interest in the project.
The 189 lighthouses that dot the coastline of India are not only navigational aids for mariners but steeped in maritime history and symbols of maritime heritage, each lighthouse has its own story to tell to the wayfarers. The lighthouses are either manned by the ports or the DGLL, a subordinate department under the Union Ministry of Shipping is the Government agency responsible for provision of general aids to mariner navigation along the Indian coast.
Director-General DGLL would be visiting the city on Saturday to interact with stakeholders to promote these destinations. The DGLL has successfully converted two lighthouses in Chennai and two in Kerala as tourism destinations and have been drawing tourists.
