Great Nicobar Transshipment Port : Government finalises DPR and approvals for Rs 41,000-crore project, construction to begin soon
NEW DELHI : The government is finalizing the detailed project report (DPR) for the Rs 41,000-crore international transshipment port at Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal, with construction set to commence in the coming months, a senior official announced on Sunday.
Environmental Clearances and Approvals Secured
Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Secretary T K Ramachandran confirmed that the project has received all necessary environmental clearances and approval from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). “The DPR is finalized, and we are moving forward with the implementation,” Ramachandran told PTI.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways had projected that the Rs 41,000 crore (approximately USD 5 billion) port would be developed through a mix of government funding and public-private partnerships (PPP). Eleven companies, including Larsen and Toubro Ltd, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, and JSW Infrastructure Ltd, have expressed interest in the project.
The port, strategically located on an international trade route near major transshipment terminals such as Singapore, Klang, and Colombo, is designed to handle up to 16 million containers annually. The first phase, costing Rs 18,000 crore, is expected to be operational by 2028 and will handle over 4 million containers.
The project includes plans for an airport, township, and power plant. It will be developed in four phases, with Phase 1 involving the construction of essential infrastructure like breakwaters, dredging, and storage areas. The PPP model will allow flexibility for concessionaires to develop infrastructure based on market needs.
Reducing Dependence on Foreign Ports
Currently, about 75 percent of India’s transshipped cargo is processed at foreign ports, including Colombo, Singapore, and Klang. The Great Nicobar port aims to shift a significant portion of this traffic to India, enhancing the country’s transshipment capabilities.