The Arunachal Pradesh government has unveiled an ambitious plan to develop the Subansiri Lower pondage into a world-class mountain-cum-river tourism hub, integrating eco-tourism, adventure activities, culture and sustainable livelihoods.
The proposed project will be centred around the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, a 2,000 MW facility and the country's largest hydroelectric project, which is expected to be fully commissioned by December this year, with four units already operational.
According to an official communique, the pondage, a regulated water reservoir created at the hydropower site, is being seen as a unique opportunity to build a high-value tourism ecosystem along one of India's most biodiverse river corridors.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking support for the initiative. He has also requested technical collaboration from multiple ministries, including tourism, power, Jal Shakti, ports and shipping, and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), advocating a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.
The proposal outlines a multi-pronged tourism strategy, combining eco and nature-based experiences, adventure tourism and water sports, cultural and heritage tourism, inland fisheries, and livelihood generation. It also envisages luxury river cruises and marine-based activities as part of the integrated plan.
Drawing inspiration from global destinations such as Phewa Lake, Lake Como and Milford Sound, the project aims to position Arunachal Pradesh as a premier tourism destination.
Khandu emphasised that local and tribal communities will be central to the initiative, acting as key stakeholders, beneficiaries and custodians of the region's ecological and cultural heritage.
The project is expected to generate over 2,500 jobs in the long run, particularly benefiting local youth, while targeting more than 1.5 lakh tourists annually in the medium term.
In the initial phase, the government plans to engage leading design and planning agencies to prepare a detailed project report, including financial estimates and implementation strategies, in consultation with local communities.
Earlier, on March 28, Khandu undertook a high-speed river journey along the Subansiri River to assess tourism potential linked to hydropower infrastructure, signalling the state's push to blend development with sustainable tourism.