Port Blair, Aug 04: The government is finalizing the detailed project report (DPR) for a massive Rs.41,000-crore international transhipment port project at Great Nicobar Island, with construction expected to commence in the coming months, as reported by The Hindu.
The Great Nicobar Transhipment port project, which has been under scrutiny due to environmental concerns, has now received the necessary clearances. “The project has received the environmental clearances and nod from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and now there is no hurdle in its implementation,” said Ports, Shipping and Waterways Secretary T.K. Ramachandran in an interview with PTI.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways had previously stated that the project is anticipated to be completed with an investment of Rs.41,000 crore, involving both government funding and public-private partnership (PPP) concessionaires. The ministry also noted that eleven companies, including Larsen and Toubro Ltd, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, and JSW Infrastructure Ltd, have submitted expressions of interest for the project.
The proposed port is expected to have the capacity to handle 16 million containers per year. The first phase, set to be completed by 2028 at a cost of Rs.18,000 crore, will handle more than 4 million containers. Additional projects planned around the transhipment port include an airport, a township, and a power plant.
Strategically located on the international trade route, the project will be in close proximity to existing transhipment terminals such as Singapore, Klang, and Colombo. The project’s success is expected to be driven by its strategic location, natural water depth of over 20 meters, and capacity to handle transhipment cargo from nearby ports.
In addition to the port, the initiative aims to promote sustainable development and boost the local economy, leveraging Great Nicobar’s strategic position to become a leading container transhipment hub.
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