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India is pursuing a major infrastructure and strategic project on the Great Nicobar Island. It is the southernmost island of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. It is located approximately 40–75 nautical miles from the Strait of Malacca—an important ‘chokepoint’ through which about 80% of China’s oil imports and a large portion of its trade pass. The project aims to boost maritime logistics, tourism and defense capabilities in the Eastern Indian Ocean.

The Great Nicobar Islands Development Project was conceptualized by NITI Aayog and is being implemented by Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO). Its estimated cost is around ₹75,000–92,000 crore. In February 2026, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) upheld the 2022 environmental clearance. Citing the “strategic, defense and national importance” of the project, the NGT directed strict adherence to ecological safeguards.

main components

The project consists of four main elements near Galathea Bay:

– International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT): A deep-water port, with a capacity of 4 million TEU in the first phase (targeted for completion around 2028), which will be expanded to 16 million TEU. It aims to reduce India’s dependence on foreign hubs such as Singapore and Colombo and establish Great Nicobar as a regional logistics hub.

– Dual-use Greenfield International Airport: A civil-military facility that will have a 3,300-metre runway. It will be capable of handling large-body and military aircraft, including potential basing for fighters and surveillance aircraft such as the P-8I. The Indian Navy will control the operations of the airfield. In early 2026, a separate military air base project worth ₹15,000 crore was also announced, along with the expansion of existing airstrips.

– Integrated Township: Spread over an area of ​​approximately 149–166 sq km, which will include residential, commercial, logistics and defense facilities.

– Power Plant: A hybrid gas-solar facility of 450 MVA for energy self-sufficiency. ### Strategic importance and Andaman and Nicobar Command

These developments will strengthen India’s only tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), thereby enhancing surveillance, maritime domain intelligence, submarine tracking and rapid response capabilities. Better ports can support larger naval vessels, while airports expand air access to Southeast Asia. Officials call it part of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and a response to China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean (often referred to as the “String of Pearls”).

Sensational claims likening Great Nicobar to the “Hormuz of South Asia” or suggesting direct “control” over China’s lifeline are exaggerated. Although this location provides important advantages for surveillance and potential interception in the event of a crisis, it does not make a physical blockade of the Strait of Malacca possible. The project focuses on logistics, connectivity and deterrence rather than offensive control.

The initiative has faced criticism over its ecological impact on a biodiversity hotspot (affecting forests, leatherback turtles and indigenous communities) and delays in its implementation. Work on groundwork and bids has progressed, but its full realization will take place in phases spanning decades.

Overall, the Great Nicobar project reflects India’s efforts to build a self-reliant maritime infrastructure and a strong strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, complementing existing assets such as INS Baaz.