Arunachal aims to turn Subansiri Lower pondage into a immersive tourism hub
Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunchal Pradesh; Image Credits - IANS
The large-scale project will integrate eco-tourism, adventure offerings, cultural experiences and sustainable livelihood opportunities into a cohesive tourism ecosystem.
In a significant move to position Arunachal Pradesh as a premier tourism destination, the state government has unveiled plans to develop the Subansiri Lower pondage into a world-class mountain-and-river tourism hub. Officials said the large-scale project will integrate eco-tourism, adventure offerings, cultural experiences and sustainable livelihood opportunities into a cohesive tourism ecosystem.
With a capacity of 2,000 MW, the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, India’s largest hydroelectric project on the Subansiri River, is expected to be fully commissioned by December 2026, with four units already operational.
The landmark project is being envisioned as a unique opportunity to build a high-value tourism ecosystem within one of the country’s most biodiverse river corridors.
Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunchal Pradesh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking central support for the initiative. He has also called for technical collaboration with key ministries, including Tourism, Power, Jal Shakti, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), advocating a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.
According to officials, the proposed tourism framework will encompass eco and nature-based tourism, adventure and water sports, cultural and heritage experiences, inland fisheries and livelihood generation, as well as luxury river cruises and other water-based activities.
The project aims to create a holistic and sustainable tourism model, drawing inspiration from global destinations such as Phewa Lake in Nepal, Kaeng Krachan in Thailand, Lake Como and the Dolomite lake circuits in Italy, and Milford Sound in New Zealand.
Khandu has underlined that local and tribal communities will remain central to the initiative, acting as key stakeholders, beneficiaries and custodians of the region’s ecological and cultural wealth.
In its steady phase, the project is expected to generate over 2,500 jobs, particularly for local youth, while targeting more than 1.5 lakh tourists annually in the medium term, thereby strengthening sustainable livelihoods and the state’s tourism economy.
As part of the initial phase, the government plans to onboard leading design and planning agencies to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR), outlining financials and implementation strategies, in close consultation with local communities.
The initiative is being positioned as a transformative step towards leveraging hydropower infrastructure for sustainable tourism, while elevating Arunachal Pradesh’s standing on both national and global tourism maps.
Source: IANS report
