Great Nicobar Project: A $5 Billion Vision to Transform India’s Maritime Trade, Says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister calls the project a gateway to India’s maritime resurgence; experts say it will redefine Asia’s sea trade dynamics.

Mumbai, October 27 (Economy India): Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah announced that India’s ambitious $5 billion Great Nicobar Island Development Project will revolutionize the country’s maritime trade and logistics network, propelling India into a new era of economic expansion and global connectivity.

Speaking at a maritime industry event in Mumbai, Shah said the project will multiply India’s sea trade capacity several times over, positioning the nation as a dominant player in the Indo-Pacific supply chain.

“This project is not just about infrastructure; it’s about India’s maritime destiny,” said Amit Shah. “The Great Nicobar initiative will multiply the country’s sea trade many times, making India a crucial hub in global commerce.”

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🌊 A Gateway to the Blue Economy

The Great Nicobar Island Development Project — located strategically at the southern tip of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago — aims to harness India’s maritime potential. The plan includes:

• A world-class International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) capable of handling some of the largest cargo vessels in the world.
• An International Airport to boost passenger and freight connectivity.
• A Power Plant for energy self-sufficiency.
• A Green Township designed for sustainable urban living with space for over 3 lakh residents.

The total investment, pegged at around USD 5 billion (₹41,000 crore), is expected to catalyze massive trade volumes, generate employment, and strengthen India’s maritime infrastructure.

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🚢 Strategic Edge: India’s Answer to Singapore and Colombo

Experts say the Great Nicobar project could drastically reduce India’s dependency on foreign ports like Singapore and Colombo for transshipment.
Currently, over 70% of India’s containers are transshipped through foreign hubs, costing the country nearly $2–3 billion annually.

With the Great Nicobar terminal in full operation, India could retain a large portion of this trade within its own borders, saving foreign exchange and boosting port revenues.

“This project will mark India’s emergence as a maritime power,” said Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairperson of IN-SPACe and an economic advisor to the project. “It’s strategically located near the Malacca Strait — one of the busiest trade routes in the world.”

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🌍 Geopolitical Significance: Securing the Indian Ocean Region

The project also holds enormous geostrategic importance. Located close to the Strait of Malacca, through which almost 40% of global trade passes, Great Nicobar gives India a powerful vantage point in the Indo-Pacific.

By developing this hub, India is strengthening its naval presence and securing trade corridors that are vital for national security and energy imports.

“The Great Nicobar project is not just an economic corridor, it’s a security multiplier,” said a senior government official. “It enhances India’s surveillance and logistics capability in the Indian Ocean Region.”

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🏗️ Economic Ripple Effect: 50,000+ Jobs and Regional Growth

According to estimates from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, the project will:

• Create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in logistics, construction, tourism, and services.
• Spur ancillary growth in shipbuilding, warehousing, and digital logistics.
• Open new avenues for private investment and public-private partnerships (PPP).

The local economy of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is expected to expand exponentially, as better connectivity encourages tourism, retail, and small-scale manufacturing.

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🌱 Balancing Growth with Sustainability

Amid environmental concerns, the government has assured that sustainability will remain central to the project’s development.
Amit Shah reaffirmed that the administration is ensuring minimum ecological disruption and maximum benefit to indigenous communities.

“Every inch of this project is being planned with environmental and cultural sensitivity,” Shah said. “Development and preservation will go hand in hand.”

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🔍 Vision 2047: Maritime Powerhouse for a Developed India

The Great Nicobar project aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision, which seeks to make India a developed, self-reliant, and globally competitive economy by 2047.

Once operational, Great Nicobar is expected to handle 16 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) of cargo annually — positioning India among the top 10 global maritime economies.

“This project will be the foundation of India’s maritime century,” Shah said. “It’s where India’s economic power meets its oceanic destiny.”

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📊 Future Impact: Trade, Logistics, and Security

Parameter	Current Status (2025)	Post-Project Projection (2030)
India’s Share in Global Maritime Trade	1.8%	4.5%
Transshipment through Indian Ports	30%	70%
Direct Maritime Jobs	250,000	800,000
Annual Cargo Handling Capacity	1.7 Billion Tonnes	3.5 Billion Tonnes

The Great Nicobar Island Development Project is more than a maritime initiative — it is India’s statement to the world that it is ready to command the seas, lead regional trade, and ensure secure, sustainable, and self-reliant economic growth.

As Amit Shah put it,

“India’s future lies not just on land, but across the oceans that connect us to the world. The Great Nicobar Project will make that future a reality.”

(Economy India)