Port Blair, July 15: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd), met Vice Chairman NITI Aayog and discussed the issue of development of Container Transhipment Port/Free Port in A & N Islands.
In a follow up letter to Mr Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog, the Lt Governor has said that the A&N Administration in 2009-2010 conducted a study through Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) to evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of establishing a Container Transhipment Terminal (CTT) at South Bay in Great Nicobar, which is nearest to the East-West Corridor and the busy shipping route of the Malacca Strait. But the project was not pursued further due to the lack of basic civic infrastructure required for a transhipment hub, as also environmental hazards prevalent in that area, the LG stated.
Similarly another site near Port Blair in South Andaman has been identified considering the technical viability and availability of basic infrastructure at Port Blair. This site can be considered as an alternative to Great Nicobar where CTT can come up alongwith Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ). However, further studies need to be taken up and economic viability of these options may have to be examined in detail, along with related environmental issues, before taking a final decision, he stated.
He further stated that the CTT project is beyond the capacity of A&N Islands and the UT Administration would be privileged to partner with the Govt. of India to take this project forward.
