Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project: Need for De Novo Review

 

Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project: Need for De Novo Review

Kudos, or credit, squarely goes to the Modi-led NDA government. The execution of the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project, a mega-infrastructure initiative valued between Rs. 81,000 crore and Rs. 92,000 crore, can now finally commence. The project spans approximately 166 sq km and is being implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).

The key components of the project include:

• An International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP) located at Galathea Bay, with Phase I costing roughly Rs. 18,000 crore, targeted for completion by 2028;
• A dual-use greenfield international airport for both civilian and military purposes;
• An integrated township;
• Coastal townships designed to support the project’s workforce and eco-tourism; and
• A 450 MVA hybrid gas- and solar-based power plant to ensure energy self-sufficiency.

Threat Perspective

The holistic threat perspective includes:

·         China’s so-called “String of Pearls” strategy?

·         Foreign high sea fishing trawlers exploiting resources in the EEZ of A & N Islands? Recently on January 29, 2026, nine poachers were apprehended near Narcondam Island for illegally harvesting marine resources. In November 2025, six foreign poachers were arrested after a week-long jungle hunt in the islands.

·         Alien poachers harvesting coconuts on  uninhabited islands. The coconut is one of the main plants found in the A & N Islands, which celebrates the “Coconut Festival.”

Lessons  – China South China Sea

Take the example of Chinese initiatives in the South China Sea to protect and advance their national security interests – both military and economic. Since 2013, China has used advanced dredging techniques to create over five square miles of new land. Spratly Islands (7 features): China has transformed seven reefs into artificial islands, reclaiming roughly 3,200 acres of land by dumping millions of tons of sand. These include the three key artificial islands: Fiery Cross Reef (3,000-metre runway, advanced radar, and

missile systems); Mischief Reef (largest artificial island with 72 aircraft hangars);  Subi Reef; Cuarteron Reef; Gaven Reef; Hughes Reef; and Johnson South Reef.

Paracel Islands (20 features): China maintains approximately 20 outposts in this northern chain, including a major administrative and military hub on Woody Island (3,000-metre runway, HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, and nuclear-capable H-6K bombers). Other key artificial islands include: Triton; Duncan; Pattle; Money; Tree; Antelope Reef; Robert; Lincoln; Drummond; and many other smaller outposts.

Surely, the Chinese development of reefs into artificial islands and their establishment of military establishments ought to serve as a lesson to Indian strategic thinkers and planners.

Key Issues for De Novo Review of the Project

The key issues that needs “De Novo Review” of the project with utmost expediency concerns the following:

a)      Need for five components of the Project!

b)      Suitability of ANIIDCO as the implementation authority.

c)      Scope for Public-Private Participation (PPP).

d)     Colonization - Population Settlement/Migration Policies.

e)      Rehabilitation of Megapode birds and Leatherback Turtles.

Review of Five Components of the Project

Surely, there is no need for a dual-use greenfield international airport for both civilian and military purposes considering INS Baaz - naval air station - is located barely 22 km awqay near Campbell Bay, which overlooks the Strait of Malacca as well as the Six Degree channel between Great Nicobar and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Existing airport runway is around 4,300 feet. Long-term plans to progressively lengthen the runway to 10,000 feet. This expansion is designed to facilitate the operation of heavier aircraft, specifically the Indian Navy’s P-8I Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, Gen 5 fighters and wide-body military and civil planes. 

More important is to review of suitability of Nancowry-Katchal-Kamrota islands for military and civilian port infrastructure? During World War II, the Nancowry harbour, formed by the surrounding islands of Nancowry and Kamorta, was utilized by the Japanese as a strategic naval base. It provided a sheltered anchorage for warships and submarines monitoring Allied movements in the Indian Ocean.

Suitability of ANIIDCO as Prime Agency to Execute the Project

More importantly, the suitability of ANIIDCO to plan and execute the project on “War footing” also needs pragmatic consideration. If ANIIDCO is to be retained as the prime agency, then it must be adequately staffed by personnel with appropriate expertise.

For the planning of various components of GNI project, there is a need to identify and appoint “Consultants” with requisite expertise.

Also, for  the implementation of various components of the GNI project, contractors with expertise and skills to construct “Sea Walls reinforced by Tetrapods”, “Jetties”, “International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP)”, “Townships”, “Energy Power Plant”, and Roads  needs to be appointed through “Tender Process”. Firms like L & T, HCC-HDC JV, APCO Infratech, J Kumar Infraprojects – NCC Limited JV, Megha Engineering Private Limited (MEIL), are already executing projects in Maharashtra. Specialized private firms like DVP Infra are often engaged for the manufacturing of “Tetrapod” breakwater formworks and structures in India.

Border Roads Organization to develop of military base infrastructure at INS BAAZ and extension of the existing “Runaway” must be employed.

Colonization of Islands -Population Settlement/Migration Policies

Yet another key issue that needs to be squarely addressed is the Colonization of A & N Islands. The archipelago is officially comprised of 836 islands, islets, and rocky outcrops. Older or more general sources often cite a total of 572 islands, focusing on the primary island structures rather than every minor islet or rock.  Only 31 islands are permanently inhabited according to the latest official government profiles. Some tourist and educational sources provide a broader figure of 37 to 38 inhabited islands.

Surely, it calls for formulation of appropriate population settlement/migration policies to ensure colonization of maximum number of uninhabited islands in pursuit of advancing national security interests. After all, the EEZ economic resources are advantageously exploited when the islands are inhabited by people. Also, native marine fishing trawlers also serve as the “Eyes and Ears” in the EEZ for the A & N Maritime Command.    

Can the environmental activists and Ornithologists suggest and assist the ANIIDCO to rehabilitate Megapode birds and Leatherback Turtles to other islands in Nicobar complex?

Overview

Viewed in holistic security perspective, the time bound execution of the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project is of utmost strategic significance when considered from national security interests:  military and economic interests.

In retrospect, the GNI Project needs a de novo review, particularly from the point of view of developing a “Greenfield Military and civilian Airfield” at Campbell Bay considering the availability of INS BAAZ barely 22 km away besides colonization and rehabilitation of species policies.