Minister for Shipping Nitin Gadkari today said that development of lighthouses as vibrant tourist spots may give a boost to local economy by generating additional employment as most of them are located in the remote areas of the country. <br/><br/>He was addressing the Investors Summit on Development of Lighthouses as Beacons of Tourism in Mumbai. <br/><br/>The Ministry of Shipping has taken up an ambitious plan to develop Lighthouses dotting India's vast coastline as new beacons of tourism. <br/><br/>Gadkari said India has as many as 189 lighthouses and the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) has drawn up a plan to develop 78 of them as tourist attractions. <br/><br/>Lighthouses located at Sunk Rock, Kanhoji Angre, Uttan Point, Korlai Fort, Jaigadh, Ratnagiri, Devgadh, Vengurla Rocks, Tolkeshwar Point in Maharashtra are part of the development project. <br/><br/>The Minister said there have been some concerns expressed by investors, especially with respect to Coastal Regulation Zone clearance, security clearance, support from Ministry of Shipping in the form of subsidy etc but he asserted that the Government's attitude will remain positive. <br/><br/>He said an Inter-Ministerial Group comprising representatives of Ministry of Shipping, Tourism and Environment and also that of participating states will be set up to iron out problems if any. <br/><br/>Gadkari added that his Ministry has already consulted the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding security clearance, as well as the Ministry of Environment with respect to forest and environment clearances. <br/><br/>He informed the investors that environment clearance would be obtained on case to case basis. <br/><br/>The Director General Lighthouses and Lightships, Captain A M Surez and other dignitories were present at the Summit.