Retired Major General Arvind Bhatia has made a passionate plea for cross-party support on the Great Nicobar development project, framing it as indispensable for India’s defense posture amid rising regional threats. In an in-depth interview from Gurugram, he dismantled myths surrounding the initiative while spotlighting its geopolitical dividends.
Spanning the Andaman and Nicobar chain—India’s eastern sentinel 1200 km offshore—the project targets Great Nicobar for a futuristic urban hub. Key features include a massive 1.62 million TEU transshipment port, a new airport doubling as a military hub, and advanced naval and air facilities. With minimal forest impact at 1.82%, it balances growth and ecology.
Bhatia traced the islands’ legacy, from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s wartime base to recent renamings like Ross Island to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island. Since 2018, PM Modi’s push for comprehensive surveys has unlocked their potential, placing India nearer to Southeast Asian neighbors than its own mainland.
The real stakes? China’s expansionist shadow over vital sea routes. The Malacca Strait, just 100 km away, funnels massive trade volumes, including Beijing’s. ‘Our ships, coast guard, and navy will operate more potently here,’ Bhatia explained, envisioning fighter deployments to check adversarial moves.
He rebuked Rahul Gandhi’s critiques, questioning if political jabs inadvertently aid rivals. ‘Opposition should support, not sabotage, strategic assets like this,’ he insisted, citing Rafale and Galwan as cautionary tales of politicized security. Slashing dependence on foreign shipping hubs—currently 75% of India’s containers—this venture fortifies economic resilience.
In an era of chokepoint vulnerabilities exposed by Hormuz disruptions, Great Nicobar emerges as India’s strategic bulwark. Bhatia concluded that transcending politics is non-negotiable; unified backing will cement India’s maritime supremacy and safeguard future prosperity.
