The Union Cabinet is poised to approve the development of the International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar Island, by the end of this year. This ambitious project, estimated at a cost of Rs 44,000 crore, is planned to invite tenders for the construction of its first phase early next year. The project, developed in four phases, aims to have the first phase operational by 2028 with a capacity of 4 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), eventually increasing to 16 million TEUs by 2058. The estimated cost for Phase 1 is around Rs 19,000 crore, encompassing various components such as breakwaters, dredging, berths, storage areas, infrastructure, equipment procurement, and the development of a port colony with government support.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) granted environmental clearance for the project in November 2022, and it has also received Stage 1 forest clearance. The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has given “In-Principle” approval for the holistic development of Great Nicobar Island. The Mega Container Terminal is a vital part of the comprehensive development plan for the island. The strategic location of Galathea Bay, situated along the international shipping route, offers significant advantages for EXIM trade, potentially attracting more transshipment cargo to Indian ports. This development is expected to yield benefits like foreign exchange savings, increased foreign direct investment, enhanced economic activity at Indian ports, improved logistics infrastructure, greater efficiency, employment opportunities, and increased revenue share.
The project’s strategic location on the International Trade Route and its natural water depth of over 20 meters make it ideal for handling transshipment cargo from nearby ports, including Indian ones. Phase 1 of the project will feature two breakwaters, a 400m wide navigational channel, an 800m diameter turning circle, a total berth length of about 2.3km for 7 berths, a 125 Ha container yard, and container handling equipment. Other integrated projects include an airport, township, and power plant, aiming to bridge gaps in infrastructure and improve economic opportunities.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, expressed that the project would be a significant milestone in making India a self-reliant nation and support the country’s economic development. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, is the nodal agency for implementing this project and will invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested organizations with relevant expertise, financial capacity, and operational experience for the development, operations, maintenance, and profitable growth of the project. The EOI details will be available on the SMPK website from January 28, 2023.
This port project is part of a broader vision to transform India’s position in the global maritime trade, enhancing its competitiveness and reducing reliance on foreign transshipment hubs. The Great Nicobar transhipment port project represents a significant step forward in India’s maritime infrastructure development, poised to reshape the dynamics of regional trade and logistics.
The Union Cabinet is poised to approve the development of the International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar Island, by the end of this year. This ambitious project, estimated at a cost of Rs 44,000 crore, is planned to invite tenders for the construction of its first phase early next year. The project, developed in four phases, aims to have the first phase operational by 2028 with a capacity of 4 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), eventually increasing to 16 million TEUs by 2058. The estimated cost for Phase 1 is around Rs 19,000 crore, encompassing various components such as breakwaters, dredging, berths, storage areas, infrastructure, equipment procurement, and the development of a port colony with government support.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) granted environmental clearance for the project in November 2022, and it has also received Stage 1 forest clearance. The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has given “In-Principle” approval for the holistic development of Great Nicobar Island. The Mega Container Terminal is a vital part of the comprehensive development plan for the island. The strategic location of Galathea Bay, situated along the international shipping route, offers significant advantages for EXIM trade, potentially attracting more transshipment cargo to Indian ports. This development is expected to yield benefits like foreign exchange savings, increased foreign direct investment, enhanced economic activity at Indian ports, improved logistics infrastructure, greater efficiency, employment opportunities, and increased revenue share.
The project’s strategic location on the International Trade Route and its natural water depth of over 20 meters make it ideal for handling transshipment cargo from nearby ports, including Indian ones. Phase 1 of the project will feature two breakwaters, a 400m wide navigational channel, an 800m diameter turning circle, a total berth length of about 2.3km for 7 berths, a 125 Ha container yard, and container handling equipment. Other integrated projects include an airport, township, and power plant, aiming to bridge gaps in infrastructure and improve economic opportunities.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, expressed that the project would be a significant milestone in making India a self-reliant nation and support the country’s economic development. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, is the nodal agency for implementing this project and will invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested organizations with relevant expertise, financial capacity, and operational experience for the development, operations, maintenance, and profitable growth of the project. The EOI details will be available on the SMPK website from January 28, 2023.
This port project is part of a broader vision to transform India’s position in the global maritime trade, enhancing its competitiveness and reducing reliance on foreign transshipment hubs. The Great Nicobar transhipment port project represents a significant step forward in India’s maritime infrastructure development, poised to reshape the dynamics of regional trade and logistics.