Great Nicobar Island: Strategy vs Sustainability
“Furthermore, India’s dependence on foreign ports for transshipment creates grounds for several problems. While management of cargo bound for or originating from India causes Indian ports to lose millions annually, port handling fees at overseas hubs and transshipment further increase expenses for Indian businesses. Additionally, India’s reliance on foreign ports raises national security issues and compounds the problems mentioned above. Thus, GNI’s Galathea Bay port project aims to counter the vulnerabilities that Indian trade faces today. The Mega Transshipment Port is expected to handle more than 14 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, making it an alternative to Colombo, Singapore, and Klang ports. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) oversees this transshipment port project, which is set to be completed in 2028.”
“The Airport Authority of India has been authorised to set up the Greenfield International Airport, which is envisioned to handle wide-body aircraft and augment connectivity and tourist flow. The plan also includes a township along with renewable and gas-based power generation plants that will sustainably provide energy. Furthermore, the strategic location of the GNI also offers great potential for offshore mining of polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese—vital for attaining mineral self-sufficiency.”
https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/great-nicobar-island-strategy-vs-sustainability