India Continues Progressing with Plans for Massive Port Development in Nicobar Islands

The Indian government has made progress in the construction of the International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay on Great Nicobar Island, with an estimated cost of over $5 billion. The project is a key part of India’s Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, aimed at spurring maritime development in the country. The terminal’s strategic location and natural water depth make it suitable for handling large container ships, and it is expected to support economic development and make India a self-reliant nation.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has issued environmental clearance for the project, and the Ministry of Finance has granted “In-Principle” approval for the ICTP development. The terminal is expected to be developed in four phases until 2058, with a capacity to handle 16 million TEUs per year at full buildout. This project is part of the Sagarmala Program, which aims to modernize and develop new ports in India to reverse the country’s reliance on transshipment handled outside the country.

However, the development of ICTP has raised concerns about its impact on the environment and the unique and threatened tropical evergreen forest ecosystems on Great Nicobar Island. The project site, Galathea Bay, is also a nesting ground for the leatherback turtle. Environmentalists and scientists have raised questions about whether the project contractor can mitigate the damage to the biological and cultural heritage of the area. Despite the controversy, the Indian government is moving forward with the project, which is expected to have a significant impact on the country’s maritime sector.

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