Great Nicobar Project: Centres ambitious Rs 72,000 crore venture to strengthen maritime defence
The Great Nicobar Project, a massive undertaking by the government, aims to develop a transshipment port, international airport, power plant, and township on Great Nicobar Island. While touted as boosting India's strategic position in the Indo-Pacific and generating economic growth, the project faces significant environmental concerns.
New Delhi: The ambitious project of the Centre, the Great Nicobar Project, has created a flutter in the country's political circles. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi expressed her concerns over the ecological impact of the project on Monday in The Hindu's opinion piece. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, echoed the same sentiment, and the BJP accused the Congress of undermining the strategic interests of the country in the Indo-Pacific region.
What is the Great Nicobar Project?
The location of the Great Nicobar Island is extremely crucial, as it is located 2,700 km from Hong Kong and 9 km from Indira Point, the southernmost tip of our country. In 2021, the Narendra Modi government approved the Great Nicobar Project, formally called the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island.
ANIIDCO, or the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation, a government entity, is spearheading the project. The timeline of the project is more than 30 years, and its estimated cost is Rs 72,000 crore. It will span over 166 sq km, which comprises about 10 per cent of Great Nicobar's 910 sq km area.
Four main components of the project
The Great Nicobar Project has four components. The first is a transshipment port at Galathea Bay that is expected to handle up to 14.5 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) per year. It will rival Singapore's transshipment port near the China-influenced Malacca Strait, one that witnesses 25% of global trade.
Second is a greenfield international airport with a runway of 3,300 metres. It can handle wide-body aircraft and will boost connectivity. The third component is a 450 MW gas-based and solar power plant, which will result in self-sufficiency in energy. The fourth is a township covering an area of 16,569 hectares where 65,000 residents, including workers and migrants, can live.
What is the importance of the project?
According to government estimates, by 2040, the project could generate an annual revenue of Rs 30,000 crore and create 50,000 jobs. The project, part of which is set to be operational by 2028, is inspired by global models like Singapore and Hong Kong. It aims to make the Nicobar Island into a "growth pole" for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) region. The port, once constructed, will make India a gateway to Southeast Asia.
The island is located close to the Malacca Strait, and most of China's oil imports pass through it. While it holds immense importance for global maritime traffic, the project is also important for India's defence. It could become India's frontline in the eastern Indo-Pacific against lurking maritime threats. It will enable India to monitor and project power across the eastern choke points, including the Lombok, Ombai-Wetar and Sunda straits. It will also ensure rapid deployment and surveillance of naval and air assets, as per reports.