Great Nicobar Island Project at the centre of debate as experts highlight strategic promise, environmental imperatives

By Aroonim Bhuyan

New Delhi, June 13. India’s ambitious Great Nicobar Island Development Project, envisaged as a transformative initiative to establish a transshipment hub, expand connectivity and bolster the country’s strategic presence in the eastern Indian Ocean, emerged as a focal point of discussions during a conference organised by the India Foundation in New Delhi on June 12 on ‘Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Development, Security and Ecology’.

Bringing together policymakers, diplomats, military veterans, academics and corporate leaders, the day-long conference examined the strategic, economic and ecological dimensions of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, with speakers underlining the islands’ growing importance amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.

More than 150 participants attended the event at the India Habitat Centre, where discussions repeatedly returned to the opportunities and challenges presented by the Great Nicobar project, one of India’s largest and most debated infrastructure initiatives.

A strategic outpost at the crossroads of the Indo-Pacific

Situated near the western entrance to the Strait of Malacca – one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints through which a substantial portion of global trade and energy supplies pass – the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have increasingly acquired strategic salience for India.

The archipelago, spread over more than 570 islands, sits astride critical sea lanes connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Home to India’s only integrated tri-services command, the islands have become a key pillar of New Delhi’s Indo-Pacific strategy and maritime security architecture.

With China’s expanding naval footprint in the Indian Ocean and growing competition for influence across the region, Indian policymakers have sought to strengthen infrastructure and connectivity in the islands to enhance both economic opportunities and strategic preparedness.

It is within this broader context that the Great Nicobar Island Development Project has assumed importance.

An ambitious plan for India’s southernmost island

Conceived as a multi-component infrastructure initiative, the Great Nicobar project seeks to transform the remote island into a major maritime and logistics hub. The plan includes the development of an international container transshipment terminal at Galathea Bay, a greenfield international airport, power infrastructure and a new township aimed at supporting future economic activity.

The project is expected to significantly reduce India’s dependence on foreign transshipment ports such as Singapore, Colombo and Port Klang, while positioning the country as a major player in global shipping and supply chains.

Supporters of the initiative argue that the development would provide a strategic counterweight in the eastern Indian Ocean, improve connectivity with Southeast Asia and create new opportunities in trade, tourism and employment.

Balancing development and ecology

However, the project has also attracted scrutiny because of the island’s unique ecology. Great Nicobar is home to tropical rainforests, diverse marine ecosystems and indigenous communities, making environmental protection a key issue in debates surrounding the initiative.

Addressing the conference, Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Admiral DK Joshi (Retd) highlighted the ecological uniqueness of the islands while arguing that development and environmental stewardship need not be mutually exclusive.

He pointed to ongoing efforts to improve connectivity between the islands and the mainland and referred to developments such as modernisation of airports, expanding road infrastructure and the expected boost to tourism through the UDAN regional connectivity scheme. He stressed the need for informed and evidence-based discussions regarding the future of the islands.

India Foundation President Ram Madhav, in his opening remarks, underlined the strategic centrality of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India’s economic and security architecture. Referring to vulnerabilities associated with critical maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Malacca, he said the archipelago possessed the potential to emerge both as a premier tourist destination and a globally significant transshipment hub.

Experts underline environmental safeguards

Dedicated discussions on the Great Nicobar project focused on the challenge of reconciling ecological concerns with developmental and strategic imperatives.

Former Shipping Secretary Sanjeev Ranjan and Rear Admiral GK Garg (Retd), a former member of the High-Powered Committee associated with the project, highlighted the extensive feasibility assessments undertaken before the initiative was launched.

According to the panellists, large-scale compensatory afforestation measures have been incorporated into the implementation framework. They argued that improved port infrastructure and logistics would not only strengthen India’s maritime presence in the eastern Indian Ocean but also generate economic opportunities and enhance regional resilience.

At the same time, they emphasised the importance of continuous environmental monitoring, sustainable execution and meaningful engagement with local communities.

Maritime security concerns

The conference also examined the islands’ role in the evolving Indo-Pacific strategic landscape.

Air Marshal PK Roy (Retd), former Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, former Ambassador to Japan Deepa Wadhwa and strategic affairs expert C Raja Mohan highlighted the need for sustained investments in connectivity and logistics to integrate the islands into global supply chains.

The panellists identified the archipelago as a crucial platform for enhancing maritime cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners through trade connectivity, maritime domain awareness and regional engagement.

They also pointed to China’s growing naval activities and infrastructure investments across the region, underscoring the importance of strengthening India’s strategic footprint in the islands.

Sustainable development and community governance

Another session focused on the relationship between sustainable development, community governance and ecological resilience.

Former Assam Governor and ex-Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Jagdish Mukhi, The Print founder and Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta and former Chief Secretary of the islands Sanat Kaul discussed the opportunities and challenges associated with balancing economic development with environmental sustainability and local aspirations.

Drawing on administrative and policy experience, the speakers offered perspectives on how the islands could pursue development while preserving their unique ecological and social character.

Growing significance in India’s maritime vision

The renewed focus on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands reflects broader changes in India’s strategic thinking.

For decades, the islands remained relatively underdeveloped despite their exceptional geographical location. However, increasing geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific and the growing importance of maritime supply chains have prompted New Delhi to view the archipelago as an essential component of its national security and economic strategy.

The Great Nicobar project represents perhaps the most ambitious manifestation of this vision.

Its proponents see it as an opportunity to convert geography into strategic advantage and transform India’s southernmost island into a major centre for maritime trade and connectivity. Critics, meanwhile, continue to call for robust safeguards to ensure that development does not come at the expense of the island’s fragile ecosystems and indigenous heritage.

The discussions at the India Foundation conference reflected this broader debate, highlighting that the future of Great Nicobar will depend not only on engineering and infrastructure but also on India’s ability to strike a delicate balance between strategic necessity, economic aspirations and ecological responsibility.