"Border Areas, Edge Of Sea Priority": Modi Inaugurates Kochi-Lakshadweep Submarine Optical Fibre Project For Fast Internet

Addressing the inhabitants of the predominantly Muslim Lakshadweep, which recently saw significant protests against his government's proposed reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Wednesday (3 January) that while the archipelago may be small in size, it possesses a large heart.

The Prime Minister visited to initiate and establish numerous projects valued at Rs 1,150 crore in the Union Territory, Indian Express reported.

The Prime Minister, who arrived on the islands on Tuesday, expressed his profound gratitude for the overwhelming love and blessings he received from the locals. The projects were inaugurated at an event that saw the participation of hundreds of island residents, including women and children.

After inaugurating the projects, Modi spoke to the assembly, indirectly criticising former non-BJP central governments. He claimed that for years, their sole focus was the growth of their own political parties, neglecting distant states, border regions, and areas located in the middle of the sea.

Discussing the measures his administration has taken for the advancement of certain regions, Modi stated, "In the past decade, our government has prioritised border areas and edge of the sea."

The project was proclaimed by Modi during his Independence Day address at the Red Fort in Delhi in August 2020.

The transformative project is designed to address the issue of sluggish internet speed on Lakshadweep Island. As per officials, this will lead to a more than hundredfold enhancement in internet speed, escalating from 1.7 Gbps to 200 Gbps on the islands.

The connection of Lakshadweep via a submarine optical fibre cable has been announced, signalling a major transformation in its communication infrastructure. This development is expected to boost internet services, telemedicine, e-governance, education, digital banking, currency usage, and literacy on the islands.

The Prime Minister has also unveiled the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant at Kadmat, set to generate 1.5 lakh litres of purified drinking water daily. Furthermore, he has committed the Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to the nation, ensuring every household on Agatti and Minicoy islands have access to this service.

Modi has initiated several projects, including the inauguration of a battery-backed solar power plant in Kavaratti, marking the first of its kind in Lakshadweep. In addition, he laid the groundwork for the refurbishment of the primary healthcare facility in Kalpeni and the establishment of five model Anganwadi centres, also known as Nand Ghars, on the islands of Androth, Chetlat, Kadmat, Agatti, and Minicoy.