Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 31 December 2023
As the curtains fall on 2023 and dawn breaks on a new year, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands stand poised on the brink of a transformational era. The year 2024 is poised to mark the inception of a developmental leap for the archipelago, driven by the grand vision of the Great Nicobar Islands Transshipment Port.
The ambitious agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, promises to usher in an era of unprecedented progress for the denizens of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
At the helm of this monumental undertaking is the INR 72,000 Crores Great Nicobar Island Development Project, poised to generate millions of direct and indirect employment opportunities and a multitude of ancillary prospects.
Central to this initiative is the Transshipment Port at Great Nicobar, estimated to require an investment of approximately INR 44,000 Crores. The project will be executed in multiple phases, with the initial phase, estimated at INR 19,000 Crores, encompassing critical elements like breakwaters, dredging, berths, storage infrastructure, equipment procurement, and the establishment of a port colony. Plans are underway to operationalise Phase 1 by 2028.
An official from the Government disclosed, “We are in the final stages of drafting the detailed project report (DPR) for the ICTP project. Once it receives cabinet approval, tenders will be invited for the construction of the initial phase,” in a statement to a prominent media outlet back in November 2023.
Anticipation abounds within the realm of news, hinting that the Government is poised to announce the construction phase of the project early next year, post the cabinet approval.
With a targeted operational capacity of 4 Million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit containers) by 2028 for Phase 1, the port’s final phase, anticipated to conclude in 2058, envisions a staggering capacity of 16 Million TEUs.
However, for the inhabitants to leverage this transformational opportunity, the pivotal step lies in identifying the requisite human resources and aligning skillsets to meet the impending demands.
The Great Nicobar Island Development Project holds the promise of reshaping the socio-economic landscape of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, offering a vista of opportunities for its populace to thrive in the forthcoming years.
Great initiative!
This project will ensure that natural beauty of Nicobar Island will die at the mercy of Corporates and Government . Secondly there is not population in Nicobar Island so not sure which population is referred in article that is expected to thrive. Instead this much money should be utilized by Government to have better management and upgradation of existing ports.
This is wonderful! In the early eighties I spent some time on these islands and was amazed at the sheer beauty and diversity of flora. Being remote from the mainland has left the area on the outskirts of the social mainstream. This project should put the entire eastern region of the country on the world map.
Excellent information.Thanks.
It will be a disaster and will harm the nature , the indigenous people will be displaced .This big development project project is going to ruin the untouched beautiful island .This is not a visionary project by the govt leadership .
Great to hear that.We really need to develop our islands for the benifit of our people.It has taken 76 yrs to think that A&N islands belong to us.We need to concentrate on security in that area too.When a small nation like Singapore do why can’t we do it.
HISTORICAL ISLAND WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, ALL UNBEARABLE ISLANDERS SURELY GET ALL AILMENTS, ANOTHER MILESTONE IS ACADEMIC MEDICAL EXPERTS MANAGEMENT FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY PEOPLES, ANIIMS POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE GREATLY INITIATED BY GOVT OF INDIA , REAL TOURISM AND HEALTH CARE BENIFITS GIVE ALL PREVENTIVE AND PROTECTION MEASURES. REMARKABLE INITIATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENT. ANDAMAN NICOBAR ISLAND PROJECT.