Itanagar, April 23, 2026: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has announced plans to develop the Subansiri Lower Pondage into a world-class mountain-cum-river immersive tourism hub as part of efforts to position the state as a premier tourism destination.
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| Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu during a river expedition along the Subansiri River, exploring its potential for eco and adventure tourism development. |
The proposed initiative aims to integrate eco-tourism, adventure tourism, cultural experiences and sustainable livelihood opportunities while leveraging the scenic landscape created by the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, the largest hydropower project in India located on the Subansiri River.
The project is expected to be fully commissioned by December 2026, with four units already operational. The pondage formed by the project is being envisioned as a high-value tourism ecosystem within one of the country’s most biodiverse river corridors.
Khandu has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking support from the Government of India and has requested technical collaboration from several central ministries, including Tourism, Power, Jal Shakti, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Development of North Eastern Region.
According to the proposal, the tourism plan will include eco-tourism and nature-based activities, adventure tourism and water sports, cultural and heritage tourism, inland fisheries, luxury river cruises and other marine-based tourism activities.
The project draws inspiration from globally renowned destinations such as Phewa Lake in Nepal, Kaeng Krachan in Thailand, Lake Como and the Dolomite lake circuits in Italy, and Milford Sound in New Zealand.
The Chief Minister emphasised that local and tribal communities will remain at the centre of the initiative as primary stakeholders and beneficiaries while preserving the region’s cultural and ecological heritage.
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Officials said the project could generate over 2,500 employment opportunities and attract more than 1.5 lakh tourists annually in the medium term, significantly boosting Arunachal Pradesh’s tourism-driven economy.
In the initial phase, the state government will engage leading design and planning agencies to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR), including financial estimates and implementation frameworks, in consultation with local communities.
The initiative is being seen as a major step towards linking hydropower infrastructure with sustainable tourism development while promoting Arunachal Pradesh on the national and global tourism map.
