The Centre will move ahead with the proposed International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar Island, with groundbreaking for the project expected in 2028, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has said.
The minister’s remarks come amid renewed discussions around the strategic and economic significance of the Great Nicobar development programme, one of India’s largest infrastructure initiatives in the maritime sector. Sonowal stated that the government remains committed to the project and will proceed with implementation after completing the required approvals and preparatory processes.
The proposed transshipment port is a key component of the larger Great Nicobar Island Development Project, which seeks to transform the island into a major logistics, maritime and strategic hub in the Indian Ocean. Located near the busy east-west international shipping corridor and close to the Malacca Strait, the port is expected to strengthen India’s ability to handle transshipment cargo that currently moves through foreign hubs such as Singapore and Colombo.
The project has been cleared for its initial phases at an estimated cost of about ₹48,862 crore and is currently awaiting final Cabinet approval after receiving clearance from the Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC). The Centre is also expected to provide viability gap funding for the development.
The Galathea Bay facility is planned as a deep-draft container transshipment port capable of accommodating some of the world’s largest container vessels. The site benefits from natural water depths exceeding 20 metres, a factor considered critical for attracting mainline shipping services and reducing India’s dependence on overseas transshipment terminals.
Apart from the port, the broader Great Nicobar master plan includes an international airport, power infrastructure, township development and associated logistics facilities. The project is expected to play an important role in enhancing India’s maritime connectivity, trade competitiveness and strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The project has also faced scrutiny from environmental groups and opposition leaders over its ecological impact, particularly on forest areas, marine ecosystems and wildlife habitats. The government, however, has maintained that environmental concerns have been addressed through the approval process and that necessary safeguards will be implemented during project execution.
Once developed, the Great Nicobar transshipment port is expected to become one of India’s most significant maritime infrastructure assets, supporting the country’s ambition to emerge as a major global shipping and logistics hub.
