Planned Initiatives to Position A&N Islands as India’s Significant Contributor: LG
New Delhi, Feb. 27: Admiral D. K. Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Vice-Chairman of the Islands Development Agency (IDA), delivered a comprehensive address today at the United Service Institution (USI) of India, New Delhi, outlining the transformational journey of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands towards the vision of Viksit Bharat. The address was attended by around 250 members comprising think tanks, media representatives, research fellows and faculty.
During his address, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor highlighted the mega infrastructure and strategic developmental projects being undertaken by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration under the aegis of the Islands Development Agency to strengthen connectivity, maritime capability, energy security and tourism potential of the Islands. He emphasized major improvements in surface connectivity, including the expansion and double-laning of National Highway-4, completion of Azad Hind Fauj Setu and the construction of the Middle Strait Bridge, which are expected to significantly enhance inter-island mobility and reducing travel time to less than half. Strengthening digital infrastructure has also been prioritized, with operationalization of the Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Islands (CANI) submarine cable project and a proposed optical fibre cable redundancy link between Digha and Diglipur to ensure reliable and uninterrupted connectivity.
In the aviation sector, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor noted the inauguration of the new integrated terminal at Veer Savarkar International Airport and the historic maiden landing of an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur, opening a new Gateway to International Connectivity. He further highlighted incentives such as waivers on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), landing charges and User Development Fees (UDF) to attract more direct overseas flights. Plans are also underway for the development of new greenfield airports at Sri Vijaya Puram and Great Nicobar, along with runway expansions at INS Baaz, Campbell Bay and INS Kohassa, Shibpur, with a focus on dual-use. Infrastructure under the UDAN scheme has been finalized and is expected to be handed over to SpiceJet and SkyHop, while helicopter services are being modernized and seaplane services are proposed to be revived to improve access to major tourism destinations.
Highlighting maritime infrastructure, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor informed that Galathea Bay has been notified as the 13th Major Port of India, to be developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model along with an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT). The proposed development of the A&N Islands as a ship repair and shipbuilding hub in the Indo-Pacific region forms a key component of this strategy. Projects worth Rs. 82,450 crore related to Great Nicobar Island, including the transshipment terminal, power plant and proposed township in terms of maritime trade, connectivity and security that will prove to be a force multiplier in promoting the geo-strategic and economic interest of our nation. ICTT Phase-I is targeted to commence operations within three years and will ultimately have a container handling capacity of 20.4 million TEUs.
Hon’ble Lt. Governor also underlined the importance of the Port Meadows project for ship-to-ship transshipment and informed that an agreement has been signed with Matsya Shipping. Significant projects are being steered in mission mode by A&N Administration. A pre-feasibility study has been conducted by IIT Madras for the development of a deep-water port at Atlanta Bay in Diglipur under PPP mode, along with ship repair and yacht marina facilities. He further said, with taking up the agenda before Islands Development Agency multiple times, A&N Administration have been able to free up 63.5% of the 6 lakh sq. kms ‘No-Go Zone’ for Oil with Andaman Basin having been reported as “Guyana like potential”, which could potentially propel India from a $4 trillion economy toward a $20 trillion economy.
On the energy front, the Administration is working towards achieving 100 percent de-dieselization through renewable energy initiatives, including ground-mounted and rooftop solar projects for homes & Govt. buildings and a 50 MW LNG-based power plant through NTPC Limited, SMR nuclear study. In addition, proposed HVDC link could potentially feed electricity from Paradeep in Odisha which could fulfil the projected peak demand of 79 MW in FY-30 without over-dependence on Diesel gensets.
The Hon’ble Lt. Governor also apprised about the potential of amazing Andamans in Tourism, Hospitality sector contributing towards the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat- with Long Island, Aves Island, Shaheed Dweep & Megapode Resort at Sri Vijaya Puram auctioned at 306-1152% premium above reserve price (Rs. 36.80 Cr annual revenue +5% yearly, 2-3.6% sharing). Development of 11 more islands and the Rangachang project is planned through a transaction advisor. He further noted that Radhanagar Beach at Swaraj Dweep has held Blue Flag certification since 2019, while ten additional beaches are being upgraded to meet Blue Flag standards, with Ramnagar, Karmatang and Raman Bagicha already designated as pilot sites. Cruise tourism has also witnessed significant growth, with the recent visit of Vessel Luminara from Sri Lanka to Phuket making a scheduled halt at Sri Vijaya Puram in December 2025.
The Hon’ble Lt. Governor also informed about the receipt of key green clearance for Great Nicobar’s strategic development with respect to planned 4 verticals.
Concluding his address, Hon’ble Lt. Governor expressed confidence that the ongoing and planned initiatives will position the Andaman and Nicobar Islands #NewAndamans projected to emerge as India’s significant contributor towards Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Independence Day vision for driving Aatmanirbharta, self-reliance, innovation & citizen empowerment.