The Great Nicobar Transshipment Project is among a slew of Indian infrastructure programmes massive in scope and mega in build. The project has got the green nod after some years and work can be expected to begin in some months.
In this conversation on The Gist, StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin Gokhale said the project was driven by India’s need for a big deep water port where massive tankers and other big cargo vessels could dock.
Currently, Vizhinjam in Kerala is the only deep water port and there is a need to augment that capability. Great Nicobar was chosen because it is 80-km from the northernmost tip of Indonesia and therefore close to the Malacca Straits, a vital choke point.
It’s also close to the international sea lanes transited by scores of ships carrying cargoes of every description, and since India relies heavily on imported energy to the extent of 80%, a port in the Andamans would provide an element of security. Currently, such cargoes are transshipped in Colombo, Singapore and Dubai.
“The total cost of the project, not just the transshipment hub but greenfield airport, township, electricity project or solar based electricity generation project, all four verticals will cost overall at the end of it about one lakh crore,” Gokhale said, “but the first phase will have about 40,000 crore spent on the transshipment hub and the greenfield airport. Then the township will come up after that.”
Gokhale made another important point.
“This transshipment hub is more a civil infrastructure project which can be used for military when required. And the airport can be also dual use where you can base some fighters. It gives India a springboard for its Act East policy. This one will give access to the Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia to Thailand and beyond.”
Editor’s Note: Also watch our exclusive series filmed in the strategically vital tri-service Andaman & Nicobar Command.
Once completed, the project will open the doors to tourism with the government planning to invite cruise lines to operate there. There’s a lot more, check out this interview with Nitin Gokhale, Editor-in-Chief StratNews Global.
