Context:
- According to the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, a bulk cargo transshipment hub can be developed in Atlanta Bay near Diglipur in the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands.
Bulk Cargo Transshipment Hub to be Developed in Atlanta
- The Atlanta Bay: It is just 50m away from the sea and there is availability of Natural break and is well connected by road.
- Galathea Bay Project: The hub is part of the Galathea bay project, worth Rs 44,000 crore.
- International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP): It is a Sagarmala Project being developed at Galathea Bay.
- Strategic Location: Situated in the northern side of A&N Islands, a harbour is essential to promote high-end tourism and other essential purposes.
- It is situated at around 80 km from the Coco Islands (the Chinese defence base).
- Significance: Once operationalized, the Port will be economically beneficial for India and its neighbours.
- The proposed port is 565 km from Yangoon (Myanmar), 1,000 km from Chittagong (Bangladesh).
- The route connects East India to South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and other regions.
- Indira Point: There are plans to develop the southernmost tip of India as a major tourism destination.
- Other Projects: There are around 58 projects worth ₹7,622 crore in A&N which are being monitored under Sagarmala programme and 15 projects worth ₹469 crore funded under Sagarmala and Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
Other Projects:
- Sagarmala Project: It is the Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to promote port-led development.
- It aims to harness India’s coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.
- Maritime India Vision 2030: As a part of this vision, it is planned to develop A&N islands and Lakshadweep Islands for tourism and other initiatives.
- ICTP at Galathea Bay: The strategic location is an advantage to EXIM trade as it lies on International shipping route.
- It will further accrue significant benefits such as forex savings, foreign direct investment, increased economic activity at other Indian Ports, enhanced logistics infrastructure and thus, efficiencies, employment generation, and increased revenue share.
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About Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands:
- Union Territory: It consists of two groups of islands on the southeastern edge of the Bay of Bengal.
- Andaman Islands: The Andamans extend north-south and include more than 300 islands. The major islands are North Andaman, Middle Andaman, and Lower(South) Andaman with Little Andaman, to the south.
- Nicobar Islands: The Nicobar group includes the islands of Car Nicobar (north), Camorta (Kamorta) Nancowry (central group), and Great Nicobar (south).
Further Reading: International Transhipment Port project at Great Nicobar Island.
News Source: TH
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November 25, 2023