It is a part of proposed “Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island (GNI) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands” project.
Key-findings of the report
- Positive Impact
  - Increase in economic, employment and business opportunities.
  - Land value will increase once the area gets developed.
- Negative Impact
  - Loss of productive land for agriculture and own land for dwelling units.
  - More influx of outside population and loss of privacy.

About the “Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island (GNI) in Andaman and Nicobar(A&N) Islands” Project

The project is proposed by A & N Administration under the guidance of Govt. of India and NITI Aayog.
The project was granted in-principal forest clearance and environmental clearance in 2022.
Implementation Agency: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) (incorporated under the Companies Act 1956).
As a part of Integrated Development, the following projects are proposed:

International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT)	Location: At Galathea Bay on the International Trade Route, in proximity with existing transhipment terminals like Singapore, Klang and Colombo. Natural depth of 20m. Proposed Handling Capacity: 14.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).
Green Field International Airport	Location: Shastri Nagar and Gandhi Nagar villages of Campbell Bay taluk of Nicobar district. Handling capacity: 4000 Passengers in Peak Hour
Township and Area Development	The broad category of land uses proposed in the concept master plan are Residential, Commercial Mixed use, Institutional, eco-tourism, coastal tourism, logistics etc.
Power Plant	It is crucial, since GNI gets most of its electricity from diesel generators. Aim is to provide good quality, reliable electrical energy without interruptions. Broad Power Demand:450 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) Additional 45 MVA from solar power will be included in total power generation. Power Generation Resources: Diesel Generating power plant, Gas Power Plant, Solar Power plant.

Need for Project and Its Importance

Strategic Location: Indira Point is about 25-40 km from the major international sea route which carries about 20-25% of global sea trade and 35% of world oil supplies.
- This strategic location presents immense opportunities to further strengthen India’s trading position in the world by developing an ICTT.
- Currently, nearly 75% of India’s transhipped cargo is handled at ports outside India. Colombo, Singapore and Klang handle more than 85% of this cargo.
Counter foreign power consolidation: As with respect to military expansion and port creation, foreign powers have increased its activities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). For instance, China’s String of Pearls to encircle India.
Improving Connectivity: At present there is very limited connectivity of the GNI with the Indian mainland and other global cities. The prime modes of travel are shipping and helicopter.
- Thus, need for setting up of a large Greenfield airport with a much greater capacity than the existing one (INS Baaz Indian Naval Air Station).
Promoting sustainable tourism: To attract high-end tourists interested in tropical forests, adventure tourism, beach tourism, water sports as scuba diving etc.
- The Green Airport Project will put A&N on the global tourist destinations map due to proximity with upcoming Senang City, the Phuket Island and Langkawi Island etc.

Environmental concerns:
- Loss of top soil in the construction areas.
- Sewage waste generation at power plant site pollute the adjacent water bodies,
- Mangroves on the eastern flank will be affected due to port construction.
- Artificial illumination on the beach can affect the sea turtle nesting and hatchlings.
Threat to fauna: ICTT which is expected to be developed at Galathea Bay, one of the world’s largest nesting sites for the leatherback turtle.
- Both the leatherback turtle and the Nicobar megapode, species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, face critical threats from this development.
Social: In 2022, the Tribal Council of Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar withdrawn its No-Objection certificate (NOC) for the project due to the administration’s lack of transparency and the hasty consent process from tribal communities.
- A portion of the land identified as “uninhabited” in the NITI Aayog plan is ancestral territory for the Great Nicobarese people.
Health: The Shompen, who have had limited contact with the outside world, remain highly vulnerable to infectious diseases.
- The proposed transshipment terminal overlaps with Shompen community areas, posing risks to their health and survival.
Natural Disaster Vulnerability: A&N are situated in a high-risk seismic zone, raising fears that the development could lead to catastrophic environmental consequences.

The planning will be in accordance with landscape planning concepts to ecogniz major landscape changes.
During the breading seasons of leather back turtles i.e. between November to February construction activities on the offshore to be halted.
Sodium vapor lights should be used for lightings, as sea turtles are less affected by it.
Implement Integrated Solid waste management system has been planned in GNI development
Strict measures will be adopted to ensure that none of the worker ever trespasses the Shompen area.
Implement Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 for displaced people.