Considering the strategic and economic benefits of the Great Nicobar Islands (GNI) development projects, the greenfield airport approved by the Cabinet last November is expected to be ready within five years and will be under the operational control of the Indian Navy, defence sources have said.
Strategic Importance of the Dual-Use Airport
The dual-use airport, intended for both civilian and military purposes, will significantly enhance India's maritime domain awareness and operational outreach, according to sources. Initial tendering for the airport is already underway, and other projects are in the pipeline.
For the holistic development of GNI, three interlinked projects besides the greenfield airfield and naval air station have been envisaged: an International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP), a township, and a power plant. The total cost of all four projects is estimated at Rs 81,000 crore. Sources highlighted that the GNI project is even more important due to potentially significant hydrocarbon deposits in the sea near the islands.
Highlighting its strategic importance, a source stated that the project would grant India the ability to sustain its presence, move assets, support operations, and monitor and maintain forward logistics close to its theatre of interest. The source added that the project should have been executed 30 years ago.
Limitations of INS Baaz
The runway at INS Baaz, the Indian naval air station in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will not be part of the GNI project. The possibility of developing INS Baaz as a brownfield project met with limitations, forcing the idea to be dropped. The site is dominated by a hill feature on the north, which is over 80 metres high. Significant hill cutting and dredging of the shallow coastline would have been required to ensure safe aviation for wide-bodied aircraft. The site also has limited scope for future expansion and would not be able to accommodate the infrastructure required for an international airport.
Geopolitical Context
The GNI is located only 40 km from the Six Degree Channel astride the sea trade route, which extends from the Gulf of Aden to the Malacca Straits. Two-thirds of the world's oil and half of the world's container traffic pass through this sensitive area. Various regional and extra-regional powers have increased their military and economic presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In view of this, the GNI project will augment India's ability to operate in the south-eastern IOR, thereby enhancing its stature as a preferred security partner and as a first responder.
Addressing Criticisms
On allegations of commercial reasons driving the project, a source stated, Criticism that it is a commercial project being disguised as a strategic one is based on geographical illiteracy. Besides the strategic reason, the government's focus is on GNI's overall development. Allegations that projects are being awarded directly to private entities are false. The projects are being undertaken through proper contracting.
Progress Updates
Giving updates on the progress of different GNI projects, the source said that for the ICTP, a public-private partnership appraisal committee appraisal has been done, and a draft cabinet note has been submitted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to the Finance Ministry. For the township, the Expenditure Finance Committee meeting was conducted last week. For the LNG-based power project, a detailed project report has been prepared and shall be cleared by the NTPC board. Cabinet approval for the power plant is not required.
Environmental Impact and Conservation
An environmental impact assessment recorded that only 166.1 square kilometres has been designated for development of the GNI project, while 81.74% of the island area will continue under national parks, the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, forests, and tribal conservation areas. The project involves forest diversion of about 130.75 square kilometres, out of which more than half will be retained as green area, where no tree felling is envisaged. Forest land will be diverted for non-forest purposes only as right of use, and the ownership of the balance non-forest land will remain with the government in terms of the provisions of the Forest Conservation Rules 2023.
A dedicated conservation programme of Rs 2,220.41 crore over 30 years has been provisioned to ensure sustained protection of wildlife, flora, and ecosystems, including Leatherback Turtles, Nicobar Megapodes, and Crocodiles, and to facilitate coral conservation and mangrove restoration.
