The three popular islands of Andaman and Nicobar — Ross Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island — are likely to get new names before the New Year. PM Modi is expected to announce the decision on the 75th anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's visit to Port Blair, where the latter hoisted the national flag.

"The government has decided to rename Ross Island as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Neil Island as Shahid Dweep and Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep as a tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It will be announced along with other plans for the islands during PM's visit at the end of this month," a home ministry official was quoted as saying by a leading national daily.

A month ago, West Bengal BJP vice-president Chandra Kumar Bose, who is related to the freedom fighter, had written to the prime minister, urging him to rename the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the 'Shaheed and Swaraj Islands'.

Bose had hoisted the national flag at the then Gymkhana Ground (now Netaji Stadium) in Port Blair on December 30, 1943 and announced that Andaman and Nicobar islands were the first Indian territory to be freed. The islands at the time were captured by the Japanese during World War II. The freedom fighter had named Andaman Island as Shaheed and Nicobar Island as Swaraj and appointed INA general A D Loganathan as its governor.

PM Modi will visit the islands on December 30 along with home minister Rajnath Singh. The two would hoist a 150 metre-high flag at Port Blair, apart from releasing a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion.