India Advances Maritime Vision with Great Nicobar Project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India’s maritime sector is advancing under the Maritime India Vision, with modernised shipping laws, digital integration and reported gains including doubled major‑port capacity, waterways rising from 3 to 32, cargo movement up about 700%, sharply reduced turnaround times and a nine‑fold increase in ports’ net annual surplus. Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the $5 billion Great Nicobar project as a major trade booster and part of efforts to make Andaman and Nicobar India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and the global blue economy, despite environmental concerns. The project includes the Galathea Bay International Cargo and Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) slated to handle 16.5 million TEUs and plans for a submarine optical cable to improve island connectivity. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari urged an “innovatively simple” financing model to attract capital and lower logistics costs, while Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pressed for indigenous vessels to cut reliance on foreign shipping. Officials set targets to boost shipbuilding and raise port‑handling capacity from 2,700 MTPA to 10,000 MTPA. India is deepening maritime cooperation with ASEAN — bilateral trade has topped $123 billion, defence and digital ties (including BrahMos exports and UPI‑PayNow integration) are expanding, and 2026 has been designated the ASEAN‑India Year of Maritime Cooperation.