Veer Savarkar Airport begins international operations; PM Modi urges visit to Cellular Jail

Veer Savarkar Airport, previously known as Port Blair Airport, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has opened its runway to international flights, making the region more accessible to tourists and visitors from around the world.

The archipelago, which has long had untapped tourism potential due to limited air connectivity, received a boost when Veer Savarkar Airport welcomed its first international flight last month. Experts predict that the islands will soon become a major tourist hotspot, attracting visitors from across the globe.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has encouraged tourists to visit the Cellular Jail, in addition to enjoying the serene islands. “Do visit the Cellular Jail as well and get inspired by the courage of the great Veer Savarkar,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

The Cellular Jail, infamously known as ‘Kala Paani,’ was where Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was imprisoned for 11 years during India’s freedom movement. It was one of the harshest punishments meted out by the British during their colonial rule.

PM Modi emphasized the importance of preserving and celebrating the legacy of the brave heroes who sacrificed their lives for the nation. His tribute came in response to an X user, a noted journalist, who praised the “naming of 21 Andaman islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees” as a favorite aspect of Andaman tourism.

Last year, PM Modi renamed 21 of the largest unnamed islands in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees. The renaming was part of the celebrations marking Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 126th birth anniversary, officially observed as Parakram Diwas.

In his post on X, PM Modi highlighted the significance of remembering the nation’s heroes who made supreme sacrifices. “Naming the islands in Andaman and Nicobar after our heroes is a way to ensure their service to the nation is remembered for generations to come. This is also part of our larger effort to preserve and celebrate the memory of our freedom fighters and eminent personalities who have left an indelible mark on our nation,” he said.

The Prime Minister further stated, “It’s the nations that remain connected with their roots that move ahead in development and nation-building.”