Port Blair is the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India situated in the Bay of Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Andaman and Nicobar Police. It is also the headquarters for the Indian district of South Andaman and the only notified town of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair is also the local administrative sub-division (tehsil) of the islands. It is the headquarters of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the first integrated tri-command of the armed forces of India. This is the entry point for visiting Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair is connected with mainland India by both air and sea. Though it is a 2-hour flight from mainland India to Port Blair, but it takes 3–4 days by sea to reach Chennai, Kolkata or Vishakhapatnam. Air connectivity to Port Blair is available from Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and Vishakhapatnam. All flights bound to Andaman and Nicobar Islands land in Port Blair's Veer Savarkar International Airport. Sea connectivity is available from Chennai, Kolkata and Vishakhapatnam are embarked in Haddo Wharf. It is home to several museums and a major naval base INS Jarawa of the Indian Navy, along with sea and air bases of the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Air Force. Port Blair is also famous for the historic Cellular Jail and other small islands like Ross, Viper etc. which were once home to British colonists. Port Blair is headquarter of Andaman and Nicobar Administration (Local Government). All major departments of UT Government and Central Government are functioning from Port Blair. Port Blair has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under PM Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission.
