Guwahati: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced plans to build four new lighthouses at Bogibeel, Silghat, Pandu, and Biswanathghat along National Waterway–2 on the Brahmaputra.
The move aims to improve safety for inland navigation.
The announcement came 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 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.
The Union Minister also unveiled a key project: Andhra Pradesh’s first Lighthouse Museum in Visakhapatnam.
The museum will focus on maritime education, heritage conservation, and tourism. An MoU between the Visakhapatnam Port Authority and the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships has secured more than 3,100 square metres of land within the Old Lighthouse area for this purpose.
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.
Additionally, he 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.