Great Nicobar Island project will transform region into major maritime hub: PM Modi shares column
PM Modi Backs Great Nicobar Island Project as Strategic Boost for India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thrown his weight behind the ambitious Great Nicobar Island Project, calling it a game-changer for India’s defense and connectivity in the Indian Ocean Region. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), the PM shared an insightful article by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, emphasizing how this massive initiative balances economic growth with ecological care.
The Great Nicobar Island Project aims to turn the remote island into a bustling hub for maritime and air links. It includes an international container transhipment terminal that can handle 14.2 million TEUs (that’s twenty-foot equivalent units for shipping containers), a brand-new greenfield international airport, a 450 MVA power plant running on gas and solar energy, and a sprawling township covering 16,610 hectares. According to Minister Yadav, who’s in charge of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the project carefully considers ecological, social, and strategic factors to avoid harming tribal communities, local species, or the area’s sensitive ecosystem.
"The Great Nicobar development will create jobs, boost trade, and strengthen India’s position in the Indian Ocean without compromising nature," Yadav wrote in his article for a major daily. He stressed that the Modi government is committed to making economy and ecology work hand in hand.
This comes amid sharp criticism from the opposition Congress party. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi recently highlighted serious concerns in a column, warning that the Rs 72,000 crore project endangers one of the world’s unique biodiversity hotspots. She pointed out the island’s vulnerability to natural disasters and argued it poses an "existential danger" to indigenous tribal groups and their way of life.
As debates heat up over the Great Nicobar Island Project’s environmental impact, supporters see it as a vital step for India’s strategic interests. Will this bold plan deliver progress without harming the paradise island? Stay tuned as more details emerge on this key infrastructure push.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
