The Arunachal Pradesh government has announced plans to develop the Subansiri Lower Pondage into a world-class mountain and river immersive tourism hub, integrating ecotourism, adventure, culture and sustainable livelihoods, an official report said.
Project Overview
The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (2,000 Mw), described as the largest hydroelectric project in India, is located on the Subansiri River and is expected to be fully commissioned by December 2026, with four units already operational. The pondage created by the project is being positioned as the anchor for a high-value tourism ecosystem in one of the country's most biodiverse river corridors.
Central Support Sought
The report said Chief Minister Pema Khandu has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking central support for the development plan. He also sought technical collaboration from the ministries of tourism, power, Jal Shakti, ports, shipping and waterways, and the Development of North Eastern Region, calling for a whole-of-government approach.
Tourism Components
As per the proposal, the plan includes ecotourism and nature-based experiences, adventure tourism and water sports, cultural and heritage tourism, inland fisheries and livelihood generation, and luxury river cruises and marine-based activities. The initiative aims to build a holistic, sustainable tourism model, drawing inspiration from 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.
Community-Centric Approach
Khandu has emphasised that local and tribal communities will be at the core of the project as primary stakeholders, beneficiaries and custodians of the region's cultural and ecological heritage.
Employment and Tourist Targets
The project is expected to generate over 2,500 employment opportunities in its steady state, particularly for local youth, and target over 1.5 lakh annual tourists in the medium term, the report said.
Implementation Plan
In the first phase, the 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 framed as an effort to leverage hydropower infrastructure for sustainable tourism development and promote Arunachal as a high-value destination nationally and globally.
Exploratory Expedition
On March 28, Khandu, along with colleagues and officials, undertook a high-speed river journey of about 45 kilometres along the Subansiri River from the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project site at Dollungmukh to the Kamle-Subansiri confluence. He had then termed the 'expedition' as part of a broader effort to integrate hydropower development with tourism potential in the state.
