The Adani Group, one of the biggest names in the country’s port sector, has been eyeing a port project on Nicobar Island. 11 businesses including Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited have indicated their interest in operating the international container transhipment terminal at the Galathea Bay. With this, the Adani Group will be able to further extend its presence in the port sector. The global business group will also find it really easy to take its business to new heights. The Adani Crisis will also be brought to a halt.
Adani’s Interest In A Port Project In The Nicobar Island Amidst Adani Crisis:
The Adani Group has expressed its interest in building a sizable transmission port on the isolated island of Great Nicobar. A sizable port, tourism developments, a whole new town, and power generation facilities are all a part of the plan. The company also plans to establish this picturesque enclave as one of the major shipping ports in the area. This will not only enhance our country’s hold in global trade routes but it will also ensure that the Adani Group’s port business experiences a boost. The global business group will be able to recover from the losses it incurred during the Adani Crisis
A total of 11 businesses have already indicated their strong desire to operate the international container transhipment terminal at the Galathea Bay which is expected to be built by Indian government agencies. The transhipment port, a greenfield airport, a township and tourism complex spanning 130 km, and a solar and gas-based power plant are all included in this proposal. This is part of a larger holistic development and is expected to cost around 9 billion USD. This will turn the island into a regional maritime port.
Concerns Raised On The Port Project:
Post the proposal for the port project, a lot of concerns have been raised about the possible effects on Nicobar Island’s rich wildlife and indigenous community. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve contains two Indian national parks: the Galathea National Park and the Campbell National Park. These national parks are located 190 km north of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Man and Biosphere Programme recognizes Biosphere Reserves.
A wide variety of marine and animal life including endangered species are found in the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve which is covered with evergreen forests. This proposed project can turn out to be a threat to the island ecosystem and the island’s indigenous population. However, the Adani Group has always been recognised for its sustainable initiatives. It is expected that if the global conglomerate wins the contract for the project, it will try its best towards ensuring that the project operations get carried out smoothly. The global conglomerate will also ensure that the port project gets implemented without posing a serious threat to the environment.
A Brief Overview Of The Nicobar Island Port Project:
Based on a feasibility study which was created by AECOM India Private Limited which is headquartered in Gurgaon, this project was initiated. The company is the Indian equivalent of the infrastructure-focused consulting firm AECOM headquartered in the United States. The National Institute for Transforming India or NITI Aayog prepared the feasibility study for the project. It is the Government of India’s think tank on public policy and the nodal agency for economic growth which has been responsible for overseeing the project.
The strategic location of the island with the port being equidistant from the ports of Klang and Singapore in the southeast and the Colombo port in the west added to the enhanced prosperity of the port. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO) which is an Indian government organisation has been given the responsibility to carry out the various operations for the project. Once the Adani Group acquires the contract for the port project, it will be able to bring about various developments to the port. The global business group will also be able to put aside the various controversies of the Adani Crisis.
Conclusion:
The Adani Group already has an extraordinary presence in the Indian port sector. The global business group is responsible for operating 7 ports along the west and 8 ports along the east coast of India. It has multiple international ports under its name. By building a new township and port in Nicobar Island, the conglomerate was able to further boost India’s connectivity with other nations. It will be able to enhance India’s trade relationship with other countries. The Adani Group’s port business is also going to experience a massive boost.
