Great Nicobar Transhipment Port: DPR Under Finalisation, Bids For First Phase Next Year

The tender for the construction of the first phase of Rs 44,000 crore International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar is planned for early next year.

Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), made this announcement, after inspecting the project site in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

According to a press release by the Shipping Ministry, the Great Nicobar Project, which is likely to come up over 130 sq km of pristine forest, has been accorded environmental clearance by an expert committee on 11 November last year. Additionally, stage 1 forest clearance has been received.

The development of this Mega Container Terminal is part of the Island Development programme which envisages holistic development of the Great Nicobar Island. The Department of Expenditure under Union Ministry of Finance has accorded in-principle approval for the holistic development of the Great Nicobar Island.

The project focuses on three key drivers, which can result in making it a leading container transhipment port, i.e. strategic location in terms of proximity (40 nautical miles) with the International shipping trade route, availability of natural water depth of over 20 metre and carrying capacity of transhipment cargo from all the Ports in the proximity including Indian Ports.

The port facilities are proposed to be developed in four phases between 2028 and 2058 and would handle 16 million containers per year, in the ultimate stage of development.

The first phase, upon completion in 2028, will handle 4 million containers per year. In January 2023, the Shipping Ministry had invited expressions of interest (EoIs) for develop the first phase of the ICTP project.

Notable names that have submitted EoIs for the project include Adani Ports, JSW Infra, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), and Container Corporation. On the international front, Dutch dredging major Royal Boskalis Westminster has expressed its intent to be included in the bidding process.