NGT Clears ₹90,000-Crore Great Nicobar Mega Infrastructure Project

By Admin

17 Feb, 2026

The ₹90,000-crore-plus Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project has received a significant legal green light after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) cleared the Centre’s ambitious development plan.

The tribunal ruled that the environmental clearance (EC) granted in 2022 by the Union Environment Ministry included “adequate safeguards” and that there was no “good ground to interfere” with the project. This verdict marks a major milestone for one of India’s most strategically important infrastructure initiatives.

NGT’s Verdict and Key Observations

A bench of the National Green Tribunal disposed of a batch of petitions challenging the project. The tribunal underscored the project’s strategic importance, noting that environmental concerns raised by petitioners had already been examined by a High-Powered Committee constituted in 2023.

In its order, the tribunal stated:

“We find adequate safeguards in the EC conditions. The remaining issues flagged earlier have been addressed by the High-Powered Committee. Given the project’s strategic importance, we see no ground to interfere.”

However, the NGT also directed “full and strict compliance” with the environmental clearance conditions by the relevant authorities, reinforcing the need for responsible implementation.

Earlier, in April 2023, the tribunal had upheld the environmental clearance on several counts and constituted the High-Powered Committee to review outstanding environmental concerns.

Project Overview: Scale and Components

The Great Nicobar infrastructure project is located near Galathea Bay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The project includes:

• A container transshipment port
  
  

• A dual-use civil-military airport
  
  

• An integrated township
  
  

• Development spread across 166 sq km
  
  

To enable this development, approximately 130 sq km of forest land on Great Nicobar Island will be diverted. The island is globally recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, which has been a central point of debate.

Environmental Concerns and Biodiversity

Great Nicobar Island is home to several protected and endangered species, including:

• The Nicobar megapode
  
  

• The leatherback turtle
  
  

• The Nicobar macaque
  
  

Environmental groups had raised concerns about the diversion of forest land and potential ecological impact. The High-Powered Committee reviewed these issues before the tribunal’s final clearance.

With the NGT’s decision, authorities are now bound to implement the project while ensuring strict adherence to environmental safeguards.

Strategic and Commercial Significance

A pre-feasibility report prepared in March 2021 highlighted national security and consolidation of India’s position in the Indian Ocean region as key drivers of the project.

Great Nicobar’s geographical location is strategically advantageous. It lies on the main east-west international shipping route and is roughly equidistant from major global ports such as:

• Colombo
  
  

• Port Klang
  
  

• Singapore
  
  

This positioning enhances its potential as a major transshipment hub, strengthening India’s maritime footprint and boosting trade connectivity.

The Road Ahead

With the National Green Tribunal’s approval, the Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project moves into its next phase. The challenge now lies in balancing economic growth, national security, and ecological preservation.

As India pushes forward with large-scale infrastructure initiatives, the Great Nicobar project stands as a landmark example of how strategic development and environmental governance intersect in shaping the nation’s future.