Guwahati: The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced that four new lighthouses will be constructed at Bogibeel, Silghat, Pandu, and Biswanathghat along National Waterway–2 on the Brahmaputra to improve safety for inland navigation.
The union minister made the announcement during the closing session of the Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 in Visakhapatnam, which showcased the expanding importance of lighthouses beyond coastal areas, boosting river transport infrastructure and safety measures.
Sonowal said that lighthouses are not only maritime landmarks but also emerging as tourism hubs, and the festival demonstrated how they connect communities with culture, history, and livelihoods.
Visitors enjoyed performances, crafts, cuisine, fashion, and night shows, celebrating India’s coastal heritage with active participation from families, youth, and artists.
Highlighting a major lighthouse-led initiative, the Union Minister announced the development of Andhra Pradesh’s first Lighthouse Museum in Visakhapatnam, envisioned as a centre for maritime education, heritage conservation and tourism promotion.
An MoU was exchanged between the Visakhapatnam Port Authority and the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships for the project, under which over 3,100 square metres of land at the Old Lighthouse area within port premises will be allocated for the museum.
Following the success of converting 75 lighthouses into tourist destinations across India, Sonowal stated that the government plans to develop 25 more, prioritizing Andhra Pradesh to enhance lighthouse tourism along the eastern coastline.
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Sonowal also referred to the construction of a 77-metre-tall Lighthouse Museum at the National Maritime Heritage Complex, with an investment of Rs 266 crore, and said that once completed, it will be the world’s tallest lighthouse museum and among the largest maritime museums globally.
