Port Blair

AirAsia begins Port Blair to Kuala Lumpur flight service from today

AirAsia will operate an international flight from Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on Saturday, officials said. Presently no international airlines operate from Port Blair's Veer Savarkar International Airport. Speaking to PTI, Chief Airport and Customer Experience Officer, AirAsia, Kesavan Sivanandam said, "It is a significant milestone because it will be the first-ever international flight from Port Blair. Our motto is not only looking at commercial viability but also connecting people. I would like to thank the local administration for all their support." Tour operators in Andaman feel that the commencement of AirAsia flights to Malaysia will be a big game changer in the tourism sector in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Southeast Asia. "I would like to convey my sincere thanks and congratulations to AirAsia for taking this initiative to extend air connectivity from Andaman and Nicobar Islands to South East Asia. The Airports Authority of Indi

A step to remove slavery: Kailash Vijayvargiya on Port Blair renaming

Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his promise to remove all signs of slavery

Signs of colonialism need to be eradicated: Fadnavis on Port Blair renaming

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for renaming Port Blair as 'Sri Vijaya Puram' and said that the signs of colonialism need to be eradicated."The signs of colonialism need to be eradicated. I thank the Modi government for doing this," Fadnavis told reporters on Saturday.Earlier on Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the renaming through a post on X, calling it a move inspired by PM Modi's vision to free the nation from the colonial imprints.Shah also highlighted the historic importance of the UT and said that it has an "unparalleled place" in freedom struggle and history."While the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A & N Islands' unique role in the same," Shah wrote in his post."The island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire is today poised to be the critical base for our ...

Govt decides to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram, says Amit Shah

The government has decided to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram, Union Home minister Amit Shah announced on Friday. Port Blair is the capital city of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Shah also said that the decision has been taken to free the nation from the colonial imprints as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an "unparalleled place" in the country's freedom struggle and history. "Inspired by the vision of PM @narendramodi Ji, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as "Sri Vijaya Puram"," Shah wrote on 'X'. The home minister said while the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in India's freedom struggle and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' unique role in it. He said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an "unparalleled place" in the freedom struggle and history, and the island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire is now poised t

Calcutta HC Port Blair bench fines Lt Guv of Andamans, suspends chief secy

In a significant development, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra was suspended while Lt. Governor DK Joshi fined Rs 5 lakh (which he has to bear from his own fund) on Thursday for not complying with an earlier order by the Port Blair bench of the Calcutta High Court on releasing benefits to workers. The earlier order passed on December 19 last year had awarded higher pay and DA to nearly 4,000 Daily Rated Mazdoors (DRMs) employed by the island administration. Speaking to PTI, Advocate Gopala Binnu Kumar, who appeared on behalf of the Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh, welcomed the court's decision. "I welcome the court's decision. The administration headed by the chief secretary and the lieutenant governor were found guilty by the court for non-compliance of its order to release the benefit of 1/30th pay plus dearness allowances for DRMs which is pending since 2017," he said. While elaborating about the case, he said, "There are nearly 4,000 DRM

Port Blair Airport's stunning new shell-shaped terminal

Opposition parties mantra is 'of, by and for family', says PM Modi

Launching a scathing attack on the opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday alleged that their mantra is "of, by and for the family". Virtually inaugurating the new integrated terminal building of the Veer Savarkar Airport here, he said that the facility will boost tourism and strengthen the economy of the archipelago. Taking a dig at the opposition meeting in Bengaluru, he said, "People are saying that this gathering is to promote corruption. The opposition parties have given a clean chit to the DMK despite corruption cases in Tamil Nadu. The Left and the Congress are also mum on panchayat poll violence in West Bengal despite attacks on their cadre." "They (opposition parties) are not concerned about the development of the children of the country's poor. Their common minimum programme is to increase corruption for their family. Democracy means 'of the people, by the people, for the people'. But these dynastic parties have the mantra of 'of the family, by the ...

PM inaugurates Terminal Building of Veer Savarkar Airport at Port Blair

With a total built up area of around 40,800 sq m, the new terminal building will be capable of handling about 50 lakh passengers annually

PM to inaugurate integrated terminal building at Port Blair airport Tuesday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the integrated terminal building of the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair on Tuesday via video conferencing. Noting that boosting connectivity infrastructure has been a major focus of the government, the Prime Minister's Office said the new facility, built at a cost of around Rs 710 crore, will play a key role in enhancing connectivity to the island, a union territory. With a total built-up area of around 40,800 sqm, the building will be capable of handling about 50 lakh passengers annually. An apron suitable for two Boeing-767-400 and two Airbus-321 type aircraft has also been constructed at the airport at a cost of Rs 80 crore, making it suitable for parking 10 aircraft at a time, the PMO said. The architectural design of the airport terminal resembles a shell-shaped structure, depicting the sea and islands. The new airport terminal building has a number of sustainability features like a double-insulated roofing system

PM may inaugurate new terminal building of Port Blair airport on July 18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to virtually inaugurate the new integrated terminal building of the Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on July 18, officials said on Friday. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will reach the airport at 9 am, while Modi will inaugurate the terminal building virtually one and a half hours later, officials said. Following a surge in passenger traffic, the Airports Authority of India has undertaken the work for constructing the new integrated terminal building at an estimated cost of Rs 707.73 crore. With a total built-up area of 40,837 square metres, the new terminal building will be capable of handling 1,200 passengers during peak hours and about 40 lakh passengers annually, officials said. The shell-shaped structure of the new terminal building depicts the sea and islands. The entire terminal will have 100 percent natural lighting for 12 hours a day which will be achieved by ...

Shah arrives in Port Blair to participate in Subhas Chandra Bose jayanti

Shah arrived at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a chief guest to culminate the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Iconic Events Week' that was held from January 17 to 23 in Port Blair

Ex-Andaman chief secretary to appear before SIT over gangrape charges

Former chief secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Jitendra Narain arrived in Port Blair on Thursday, following a Calcutta High Court order to appear before a Special Investigation Team, which is probing alleged gangrape charges against him, by October 28. Narain was escorted out of the airport amid heavy security cover, officials said. He did not respond to questions from mediapersons, who were waiting for his arrival at the airport. A vacation bench comprising justices Bibek Chaudhuri and Prasenjit Biswas also granted interim protection against arrest to Narain till a date that will be fixed by the circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court in Port Blair on November 14, on its first date of sitting after the Durga Puja vacation. The court also noted that Narain, who was transferred to Delhi on July 21, has declared that he is ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation. The SIT is probing an allegation by a woman that she was gangraped by Narain and others on April 14

Andaman MP demands resumption of choppers from Port Blair to Shaheed Dweep

The MP added that other than this helicopter service is required for high-value tourists and business owners who contribute to Shaheed Dweep's local economy

President reviews Tri-Service Guard of Honour in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

President Ram Nath Kovind reviewed a Tri-service Guard of Honour on his arrival at Port Blair, a statement said on Friday

670 electric buses, 241 charging stations sanctioned under FAME scheme

Government has sanctioned 670 electric buses for Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Chandigarh, and 241 charging stations in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Port Blair

Port Blair may soon lose 'major port' tag due to lack of container traffic

On June 1, 2010, under Indian Ports Act, 1908, govt declared Port Blair as 13th major port in India

Port Blair: Away from the 'mainland'

A visit to the idyllic town of Port Blair can still invoke painful memoriesof the British Raj