Behind the island push to cut dependence on Colombo: Galathea Bay is one of two new major ports under Amrit Kaal Vision 2047

Background

The island administration is moving on land for the Great Nicobar airport, and the port beside it carries the bigger trade argument. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways describes the proposed International Container Transhipment Port at Galathea Bay as one of two new major ports planned under Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The total estimated cost is about Rs 44,000 crore, with Phase 1 at over Rs 19,000 crore. Phase 1 is planned for about 4 million TEUs and commissioning in 2028, and the final stage is 16 million TEUs by 2058. The site sits about 40 nautical miles from the international shipping trade route, on the East-West world shipping corridor, with natural water depth of over 20 metres. The reason given is that about 75 per cent of India's transhipped cargo is now handled at foreign ports, with Colombo alone taking 45 per cent. Environmental clearance came from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 11 November 2022.