This project was initiated a few months ago on Great Nicobar Island and has already been engulfed in a whole bunch of controversies. This happens to be one of the most ambitious infrastructure endeavours in the Indian Ocean region of India and has raised all kinds of apprehensions among environmentalists and activists fighting for the rights of tribes. But to the Government, it represents a hallmark towards fulfilling its dream of turning the island into another global maritime hub. On the contrary, this project shows that India stands for balanced economic development with ecosystem integrity in building national security and regional influence.
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Why is the Great Nicobar Island Project in the News?
With the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, spreading the awareness of this project by sharing an article regarding its significance on 12 September 2025, it generated renewed interest. He mentioned that it was an example like the economy ecology complements with renowned words on its strategic defence national importance by Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav.
What is the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project?
About the Project:
- NITI Aayog initiated the project in 2021.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) is assigned the execution of the Project.
- The project, in essence, is aligned with India’s Maritime Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Components:
Now you have the International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) to deal with the foreign ports of Singapore and Colombo to a certain extent.
- Greenfield International Airport: improve connectivity, tourism and defence preparedness.
- Integrated Township: Sustainable urbanisation development.
- Gas: Solar Power Plant for a clean and reliable energy supply.
Strategic Importance of the Project:
Transhipment Hub:
- Ensure not having to deal with pure play PSS like Colombo and Singapore in terms of handling of containers in our region of influence.
- Ensures India’s position on global supply chains.
Aviation and Defence:
- Greenfield Airport is used for civil and military purposes.
- Enriches tourism, boosting the local economy.
Strategic Location:
- The Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits are among the main passages of international commerce and energy supply and are close to this geographical site.
- They may include Sabang (Indonesia), Coco Island (Myanmar), and the Kra Canal (which Thailand intends to work on).
- This puts India almost equidistant from all of Colombo, Port Klang, and Singapore, placing it right in the centre of the sea trade in the Indo-Pacific region.
Maritime Security:
- India’s naval reach in the Indo-Pacific should be strengthened.
- The combat against piracy, terrorism, trafficking, and great-power rivalries would still benefit.
- Increased India’s EEZ as defined under UNCLOS (1982).
Policy Alignment:
- The Acts East policy (2014) of India.
- Strengthens QUAD’s strategy in the Indo-Pacific.
- India will become active among the maritime powers under the shadow of China’s rising presence in the IOR.
Tribal Safeguards:
- Specifically, VPTGs like those of the Shompen live in the Great Nicobar. The project designs some measures to protect the rights and well-being of these groups. Development takes place only after consultation with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Directorate of Tribal Welfare, and AAJVS.
- The Jarawa Policy (2004)and the Shompen Policy(2015) guide tribal welfare.
- AAJVS acts as a trustee of tribal groups.
- The mandatory consultation with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) under Article 338A(9) kept the tribal interests of the people safe.
Environmental Safeguards:
- The most argued aspect of the GNI Project concerns its environmental concerns. In fact, the project has built-in measures for balancing development with ecological protection. For instance, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA 2006), detailed studies, and an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) are in place.
- Supports all project activities in accordance with national environmental laws.
- It will develop a framework for sustainable development without ignoring misuse.
Wildlife Corridors:
- Eight such corridors will allow safe passage for arboreal species, snakes, crabs, and crocodiles.
- This will minimise human-wildlife conflict during construction and operation.
- Biodiversity balance through preserving natural migration paths.
Compensatory Afforestation:
With more than 75 per cent forest cover in the A and N Islands, afforestation will be undertaken in Haryana to offset the loss of trees.
- It will recover greenness lost due to infrastructure development.
- Carbon sequestration and soil conservation are ecological benefits of the tree plantation.
- Stricter measures to minimise environmental disturbance.
- Continuous eye keeping on environmental standards should be monitored.
- There have been independent evaluations and scientific reviews done to assess changes in real time.
- Authenticating endorsement for transparency and accountability in the implementation of the project.
Economic and Strategic Benefits Para Budgets:
Profit Economic Use:
- Makes India a global transhipment hub.
- Increases tourism and local business development.
- Reduces costs for exporters and importers who rely on Colombo/Singapore.
Strategic & Defence Benefits:
- Strengthens India’s maritime defence
- Enhances presence in Indo-Pacific sea lanes.
- Counters growing Chinese naval activity in the region.
Challenges and Concerns-
Despite its advantages, the project is being criticised and is having to deal with challenges:
Environmental Risks:
- Dismembering plants, reducing their habitats, and disrupting marine ecology.
- Risk of property damage during construction and contamination of surface and groundwater.
- Long-term climate implications for fragile island ecosystems.
Tribal Rights:
- Risk of the displacement or disturbance of indigenous communities.
- Chances for the erosion of culture and traditional lifestyles.
- Greater outside contact could threaten the health and identity of PVTGs.
Geopolitical Risks:
- The increased military presence may raise tensions in the IOR.
- It could provoke countermeasures from rival powers like China.
- Raises concerns among neighbouring countries regarding the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
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Conclusion-
The endeavour that is the Great Nicobar Island Project symbolises India’s intention to be a maritime power in conjunction with ecological protection and tribal interests. This will inevitably prove to be a very important factor in international trade, which will elevate India’s otherwise marginal role to that of a power on the national security level and increase India’s credibility in the Indo-Pacific region.
In this balance between development and sustainability, the project can form a template for all such construction work in ecologically sensitive areas, as well as provide the justification and opportunity for it.