The Great Nicobar Island Project, formally the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island, is a proposed mega infrastructure and strategic development initiative approved by the Narendra Modi Cabinet in 2021. Conceived by NITI Aayog, the project aims to transform the island into a "strategic and economic maritime hub" over a 30-year phased plan, with an estimated cost of up to ₹81,000 crore. The core objective is to reduce India's reliance on foreign transshipment hubs like Singapore by leveraging the island's proximity to the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping corridors.
The mechanism involves developing a greenfield city spanning 166 sq km. Key components include an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Galathea Bay, a dual-use Greenfield International Airport, a 450 MVA hybrid power plant, and a modern township. The project is being executed by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
The initiative is a critical part of India's Act East Policy and aligns with the Maritime India Vision 2030. It connects to environmental governance through its Environmental Clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006 and ICRZ Notification, 2019, which imposed 42 strict conditions. Recently, the project's clearance was upheld by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in an order dated April 3, 2023. A major social provision is the Zero Relocation Policy to safeguard the Shompen (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) and Nicobarese tribal communities, addressing concerns related to the Forest Rights Act 2006.