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President of Andaman Association of Tour Operators, Mohan Vinod, thanked the Union government for renaming Port Blair to 'Sri Vijaya Puram' on Friday.
"I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for renaming the capital of Andaman and Nicobar, Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram," he said. Vinod added, "This historic decision is a game-changer for our tourism industry. The new name, Sri Vijay Puram, will not only boost tourism but also preserve the rich history and cultural heritage of our islands." He praised the government's efforts in recognising the significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and taking steps to promote its unique identity. He also said that the name had been attached to the Britishers for a long time, but now that legacy has been left behind. "For a long time, our capital's name was attached to the Britishers, but now it has been changed to the name of a warrior, for that I thank the Prime Minister and Home Minister," he added. Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah had posted on X that the earlier name of the capital had a colonial legacy, while the new name symbolises the victory achieved in the freedom struggle. "Inspired by the vision of PM @narendramodi Ji, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as 'Sri Vijaya Puram.' While the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A&N Islands' unique role in the same," the post read. He also mentioned that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an unparallel place in the country's freedom struggle, "Andaman & Nicobar Islands have an unparalleled place in our freedom struggle and history. The island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire is today poised to be the critical base for our strategic and development aspirations. It is also the place that hosted the first unfurling of our Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ji and also the cellular jail in which Veer Savarkar Ji and other freedom fighters struggled for an independent nation." The renaming of Port Blair is expected to attract more tourists to the islands, creating new opportunities for local businesses and stakeholders. The Andaman Association of Tour Operators has welcomed this move and looks forward to working with the government to promote the islands' new identity. (ANI)
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