India's new strategic maritime hub takes shape at Great Nicobar

New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) The Great Nicobar Project, work on which is underway, aims to transform the Great Nicobar into a strategic maritime and economic hub by leveraging its proximity to the global East–West shipping route and reducing dependence on foreign transshipment ports keeping in view India's defence and national security, an official statement said on Friday.

The project, which will strengthen India's strategic presence in the Andaman Sea and Southeast Asia, seeks to balance port-led economic growth with calibrated environmental safeguards and protection of indigenous communities.

The major infrastructure components of the project comprise a 14.2 million twenty foot equivalent unit( MTEU) International Container Transshipment Terminal, a Greenfield International Airport, a 450 MVA gas–solar power plant, and a planned township, according to an official factsheet issued on Friday.

India's ports lack deep water berths for large ships. Because of this, cargo is routed through Colombo and Singapore. India loses substantial revenue as a result.

Countries like Myanmar, China and Sri Lanka are already building deep water facilities to capture this trade.

In this context, the International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay is being developed as part of the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island under the Island Development programme.

Along with the proposed airport, township, and power plant, the Galathea Bay transhipment port forms a major infrastructure component of the overall Great Nicobar Project.

The port is strategically important because it is located close to the East-West international shipping route, about 40 nautical miles away, and has natural water depth of more than 20 metres.

"This strategic location gives it an advantage to attract both gateway and transhipment cargo, reduce India's dependence on foreign ports like Colombo, Singapore and Klang," the statement noted.

The development follows a regulated environmental framework, diversion of 1.82 per cent of island forest cover, and compensatory afforestation planned over 97.3 square km.

The island has world class ecological resources that can attract international and Indian tourists.

An international airport is necessary to improve connectivity and open up the island to tourism.

The island is close to international tourist destinations like Senang City, Phuket Island and Langkawi Island.

Port Blair airport currently handles around 1.8 million passengers annually.

The new airport is expected to handle at least 1 million passengers when it opens and grow to nearly 10 million passengers per year thereafter.

The planned township is intended to support the residential, commercial and institutional requirements arising from the port-led development of the island.

It will provide essential urban infrastructure for personnel, service providers and associated economic activities, in line with the overall integrated development framework.

"Tribal welfare remains central, with no displacement proposed for Shompen and Nicobarese communities and a net increase in notified tribal reserve area through re-notification measures," the statement added.

--IANS