Itanagar: In a major push to position Arunachal Pradesh as a premier travel destination, the state government has unveiled an ambitious plan to develop the Subansiri Lower Pondage into a world-class mountain-and-river tourism hub.
The initiative is centered around the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project on the Subansiri River, which, with a capacity of 2,000 MW, is set to become India’s largest hydroelectric project. The project is expected to be fully operational by December 2026, with four units already functional.
Officials said the vast pondage created by the project offers a unique opportunity to build a high-value tourism ecosystem in one of the country’s richest biodiversity zones. The proposed hub aims to blend eco-tourism, adventure activities, cultural experiences, and sustainable livelihood generation.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking central support and collaboration across key ministries, including Tourism, Power, Jal Shakti, and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), to implement a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach.
According to the proposal, the tourism model will include nature-based experiences, water sports, heritage tourism, inland fisheries, luxury river cruises, and other marine-linked activities. The plan draws inspiration from globally renowned destinations such as Phewa Lake, Kaeng Krachan, Lake Como, and Milford Sound.
Khandu emphasised that local and tribal communities will remain at the heart of the project, acting as key stakeholders and custodians of the region’s cultural and ecological heritage.
The project is expected to generate over 2,500 jobs in the long run, particularly for local youth, and aims to attract more than 1.5 lakh tourists annually in the medium term—providing a significant boost to the state’s tourism-driven economy.
In its initial phase, the government will onboard leading design and planning agencies to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR), including financial projections and implementation strategies, in consultation with local communities.
The initiative is being seen as a transformative step to integrate hydropower infrastructure with sustainable tourism development, enhancing Arunachal Pradesh’s profile on both national and global tourism maps.
Notably, on March 28, Chief Minister Khandu, along with officials, undertook a 45-km high-speed river journey along the Subansiri—from Dollungmukh near the project site to the Kamle-Subansiri confluence—highlighting the region’s tourism potential as part of this broader vision.
With inputs from IANS