Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on January 23 to take part in the celebrations marking the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in what is set to be a high-profile visit combining historical commemoration with a review of some of India’s most strategically important infrastructure projects in the Bay of Bengal, officials said.
During the proposed visit, the Prime Minister is expected to hoist the national flag and address a public gathering at Netaji Stadium in Sri Vijaya Puram. The stadium holds deep historical significance as it was here, then known as Gymkhana Ground, that Netaji unfurled the Tricolour on December 30, 1943, during the period of the Azad Hind government.
The Union government observes Netaji’s birth anniversary as Parakram Diwas every year to honour his courage and contribution to India’s freedom struggle.
Officials said Modi is also likely to pay floral tributes at Netaji’s statue at Marina Park and lay a wreath at the Martyrs’ Column in Sri Vijaya Puram. His itinerary may also include a visit to the Cellular Jail to pay homage to freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar.
Beyond the ceremonial engagements, the Prime Minister is expected to travel to Campbell Bay in Great Nicobar, where he will review the ambitious international transshipment port project that the Centre sees as a cornerstone of India’s maritime strategy in the eastern Indian Ocean. The deep-water port at Great Nicobar, located close to key global shipping lanes connecting the Malacca Strait with the Bay of Bengal, is designed to allow India to capture a larger share of transshipment traffic currently handled by foreign ports such as Colombo and Singapore.
Strategic planners view the Great Nicobar port not only as a commercial hub but also as a vital asset for India’s naval and logistics footprint in the region, enabling faster deployment, refuelling and maintenance of Indian naval and coast guard assets in a part of the Indian Ocean that has seen a growing Chinese presence.
During his visit, Modi is also expected to interact with senior defence and security officials posted in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Officials said he will review the progress of the Great Nicobar project and discuss the proposed deep-water dry bulk port at Atlanta Bay in North Andaman, which is being planned as a key complement to the southern port. Together, the two facilities are intended to anchor India’s island-based maritime infrastructure at both ends of the archipelago, strengthening surveillance, logistics and commercial reach across the Bay of Bengal.
The Prime Minister’s proposed trip would mark the latest high-profile engagement by the central leadership with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In the past month alone, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has visited the islands twice, underlining the growing strategic and administrative focus on the archipelago amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
Preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit are currently at a preliminary stage. Senior police officials said security and logistical arrangements will be scaled up once the Prime Minister’s programme is formally confirmed.
As part of the Parakram Diwas celebrations, a series of cultural programmes are planned at Netaji Stadium, with the local administration considering inviting well-known singers and artists to perform during the event.
Prime Minister Modi has in recent years taken several steps to honour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s legacy in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In 2018, he renamed Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep in tribute to Netaji’s vision and sacrifices, and later named 21 previously unnamed islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees.
In 2023, Modi also unveiled the model of a proposed National Memorial dedicated to Netaji at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (Ross Island). The memorial is planned to include a museum and interpretation centre, a laser and sound show, a guided heritage trail, a ropeway, a theme-based children’s park, and food and recreation facilities, aimed at turning the historic site into a major centre for national remembrance and tourism.
