Great Nicobar Mega Project: High-End Tourism Infra And Cruise Terminal Proposed

The Union Shipping Ministry has unveiled ambitious new proposals as part of the Rs 72,000 crore mega-infrastructure project aimed at transforming Great Nicobar Island into a “Global Port-Led City.”

Among the additions are an international cruise terminal, high-end tourism infrastructure, and a ship-breaking yard, according to official correspondence accessed by this publication.

Despite the grand vision, concerns have been raised over the project’s compatibility with India’s security and environmental priorities. The government has denied multiple Right to Information (RTI) requests regarding environmental clearances, citing national security and strategic interests.

As per The Hindu report, In addition to the already approved international container transshipment port at Galathea Bay, military-civil airport, power plant, and greenfield township, the Shipping Ministry has requested:

1. 100 acres of seafront land for ship-building and ship-breaking facilities.

2. Declaration of Campbell Bay as an export-import port to facilitate construction material imports.

3. Development of an international cruise terminal at Indira Point to attract high-end domestic and international tourists.

The ministry’s vision, articulated by Union Shipping Secretary T.K. Ramachandran in a September 18 letter, positions the island as a hub for eco-tourism and strategic maritime activities.

The project involves the diversion of 130 sq km of pristine tropical forest, with Stage I forest clearance granted in October 2022 and subsequent environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances in November 2022.

Great Nicobar Mega Project Plan

The GNI Project is originally planned for four ‘interlinked’ projects that together constitute the new Greenfield city at Great Nicobar.

The four projects are the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), Greenfield International Airport, a power plant, and a township.

The project is being spearheaded by Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO), under a vision plan conceived by the NITI Aayog.

The idea behind the development of GNI is based on leveraging the locational advantage of being on the international sea route and develop GNI as a sustainable, green, global destination for business, trade, and leisure.

International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT)

The proposed port will handle 14.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of cargo capacity.

It will allow Great Nicobar to participate in the regional and global maritime economy by becoming a major player in cargo transshipment.

Development of transshipment terminal would attract existing traffic of ports along the eastern coast of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, as they form the primary catchment for transshipment terminal.

Greenfield International Airport

The proposed Great Nicobar Island International Airport (GNIIA) will be developed as an international airport in Great Nicobar Islands.

The airstrip will be developed to cater for operation of Airbus A-380 type of aircraft, in all weather conditions having peak hour passengers' capacity of 4,000.

The airport would be developed as a “joint military-civil, dual-use airport”, under the operational control of the Indian Navy and will cater to tourism as well.

Township

The Township project consists of a mixed-use development area that will link the infrastructure facilities to complete the physical framework of the new city.

It will be made up of commercial, industrial and residential zones, but a major chunk of the land will be set apart for different types of tourism projects and activities.

Power-Plant

The project proposes the development of a power plant near the ICTT, with capacity to produce sufficient electrical power to run the new city.

The power generation plan for the project envisages solar plants, gas based plants and some diesel generating stations in initial days.

Diesel gensets shall be used in initial phase of development and shall be about 15 per cent of the total demand of about 450 MVA.

About 10 per cent is planned through solar panels and the balance shall be gas based.