When you look at a map from a distance, there are all these massive landscapes and landmasses, which dominate the vision; in the periphery are the forgotten blue and green dotted islands. Most of the time, they are deprived of development, population, and sometimes even basic infrastructure. Their deprivation is masked by the argument of environmental conservation, even as the population suffers.
Therefore, to amend that, the Indian government has planned a Rs 3,600-crore-plus infrastructure upgrade for the Lakshadweep islands to transform them into a tourist hub. The development includes the establishment of port facilities at Androth, Kalpeni, and Kadmat islands, as well as the construction of beachfront and peripheral roads at Kadmat Island (East), Agatti Island (East), and Kavaratti Island. A total of 13 projects have been identified for the 36 Lakshadweep islands, which cover an area of 32 square kilometres and are located 220-440 km off the Kerala coast in the Arabian Sea.
Similarly, the Nicobar Island chain is also set for a huge makeover, with the Greater Nicobar development project undergoing final checks and clearances. The project was announced on May 25, 2021, and construction on the first phase will start by the end of this year.
This is a major pivot in government policy to develop infrastructure in the island regions. These island chains are crucial to our naval defence and security. They are also major tourist destinations with picturesque islands, which have been largely untapped. They also lie on the most heavily sailed international maritime trade routes. However, despite the advantages, there have been no major investments to boost the presence of these islands until now.
In the past, the Indian government strived to preserve the islands by implementing environmental restrictions and regulating their societal and economic affairs. This policy successfully maintained the islands’ pristine nature and kept their nationalist citizens in equilibrium. However, as times have changed, the people of the islands now aspire to reap the benefits of the government’s development initiatives, aligning with the rest of the country’s trajectory.
That time is now and the government’s bid to develop these islands is a major step in the right direction.
Overseeing in the West: Lakshadweep
The Modi government is focusing on developing port connectivity, tourism infrastructure, and amenities on the islands, including Lakshadweep, to promote domestic tourism and generate employment.
Lakshadweep, India’s smallest union territory, has become a prominent topic of conversation and a must-see destination, particularly among Indian tourists. The islands gained widespread attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, where he shared captivating images, creating a buzz across the nation. However, derogatory comments from Maldivian ministers led to a diplomatic row and calls for an Indian “boycott” of the island nation.
During his January visit to the islands, PM Modi dedicated several key projects to the nation, including a submarine optical fibre cable connecting Kochi and Lakshadweep, a “low temperature” thermal desalination plant for Kadmat, a drinking water distribution project, and a battery-backed solar power project.
The Indian government has proposed constructing a new airfield on Minicoy, one of the 36 islands in Lakshadweep. The envisioned airfield aims to serve both commercial and military aircraft, with plans for a joint facility capable of accommodating fighter jets, military transport planes, and commercial flights.
This airstrip’s development aims to boost tourism around Lakshadweep and enhance India’s surveillance capabilities over the Arabian Sea and Indian Pacific Sea. Currently, the only airport in Lakshadweep is Agatti, located approximately 300 kilometres away from Minicoy.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for renovating the primary healthcare facility at Kalpeni and constructing model Anganwadi centres in the islands of Androth, Chetlat, Kadamat, Agatti, and Minicoy.
Last year, to promote tourism to the islands, the Modi government hosted a G20 summit there. Science20 had the opening session of the Thematic Conference on Universal Holistic Health at Bangaram Atoll. It was one of the 60 destinations of the G20 summit held across India to showcase its diversity.
The recent push has attracted private hotel chains such as Taj, aiming to open additional locations to establish opulent accommodations. The Taj Group, in particular, unveiled plans to introduce new hotels on the Suheli and Kadmat islands by 2026, with development overseen by the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL).
Airlines such as SpiceJet have also announced their intention to initiate flight operations to Lakshadweep, further underlining the region’s growing connectivity and importance.
Currently, Lakshadweep possesses the necessary infrastructure to cater to its 60,000 residents and a limited number of tourists. In 2021, the island welcomed 13,500 tourists, and this number increased to 22,800 the following year.
The Eastern Gateway: Andaman and Nicobar
The Great Nicobar Island project, a Rs 75,000 crore infrastructure endeavour, encompasses an International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) with the capacity to handle 14.2 million TEUs (unit of cargo capacity) eventually, a greenfield international airport capable of handling peak hour traffic of 4,000 passengers both ways, a township, and a gas and solar power plant.
The Shipping Ministry of India plans to commence construction of the first phase of the international trans-shipment port at Galathea Bay on Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal this year. Developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, the proposed international container trans-shipment port is estimated to cost Rs 44,000 crore. It will be constructed in four phases with a total capacity of 16 million TEUs. The entire port is expected to be operational by 2058.
Phase 1, slated to be operational by 2028, will handle nearly 4 million TEUs.
The township will comprise commercial, industrial, and residential zones, with a significant portion of land allocated for various tourism projects and activities.
A total of 166 square kilometres will be designated for ‘development,’ with 72 square kilometres allocated for the first of three phases in which the project will be implemented, according to plans discussed by the EAC.
Over the last 5-6 years, the central government has approved funds totalling Rs 95,000 crore for infrastructure development on the island.
According to Lt Governor Admiral DK Joshi, who is also the vice-chairman of the Islands Development Agency, two more greenfield airports are in the pipeline, including one in Port Blair (in addition to the existing Veer Savarkar International Airport) and another in Great Nicobar.
For enhanced inter-island connectivity to promote tourism, the Lt Governor stated that operators have been selected for three seaports at Long Island, Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep, and for the UDAN scheme at Diglipur, Car Nicobar, Campbell Bay, and Great Nicobar.
Security and Strategic Importance
The strategic importance of these island groups, positioned along the busiest international maritime trade routes in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), is self-evident.
Lakshadweep has gained strategic significance in recent years due to China’s rise and its efforts to expand its presence in the Indian Ocean Region. On April 7, 2021, the USS John Paul Jones, a guided-missile destroyer, sailed just off the coast of Lakshadweep. This proximity underscored the archipelago’s strategic importance. It is a matter of concern that major world powers are vying to demonstrate their military, diplomatic, and political presence to establish a foothold in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Lakshadweep can serve India as a Strategic Sentinel, Maritime Guardian, and Diplomatic Asset in the Indian Ocean.
Lakshadweep islands can function as an Indian naval base in the Arabian Sea to safeguard our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), combat smuggling and sea piracy, monitor Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), counter China’s influence, and facilitate joint training with friendly foreign countries like the QUAD. Indian defence establishments in Lakshadweep have been bolstered over the years.
Moreover, India has stepped up surveillance and anti-piracy action up to the Red Sea. This provides more impetus for the development of Lakshadweep, as it can act as an extended base to provide military facilities and logistics support to the Indian Navy and other friendly nations.
For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, their strategic location enables India to play a crucial role in the region both in disaster relief efforts (as during the 2004 tsunami) and in addressing maritime security threats. With these islands as their base, India, along with other countries, can act as a net security provider to the region and the SLOCs.
Fortunately, the basin countries of the Andaman Sea have largely resolved their issues amicably, and maritime boundaries are well-defined.
Situated at the entrance of the Malacca Strait and spanning one of the world’s most crucial trade chokepoints, these islands serve as a valuable strategic asset. In the developing 21st-century maritime competition between India and China, these islands can play a pivotal role. The Malacca Strait, running between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, connects the Andaman Sea of the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea, making it one of the busiest shipping channels globally. Nearly 70,000 out of the 1,20,000 ships sailing through the Indian Ocean pass through the Strait of Malacca.
During peacetime, threats and challenges arise from illegal migration, human trafficking, poaching, and subversive activities from the seas, which, while not prevalent, cannot be ignored.
The security responsibility for the islands rests with the Andaman and Nicobar Command established in 2001, India’s first and only tri-service theatre command which was never pursued to its logical end, the Coast Guard, and the Andaman Police with its small maritime component. All these organisations are undergoing strengthening as part of a long-term Capability Development Plan based on infrastructure enhancement and force buildup.
The islands also hold immense geostrategic significance as potential launch pads in both symmetric and asymmetric conflicts, serving as entry and exit points to the Pacific Ocean from the Indian Ocean, and offering a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rich in natural resources.
They also play a crucial role in controlling Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) during conflicts and serve as a means for India to counterbalance Chinese influence by developing its eastern Indian Ocean territories and providing military facilities for logistics support to navies from friendly Quad countries. Further collaborations such as with the recent deployment of the Royal Navy’s HMS Tamar underscore the growing importance of Indo-Pacific cooperation between India and the United Kingdom, as part of their broader defence and security relationship.
China’s significant investments in port modernisation projects in countries along the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) pose a threat to Indian interests, particularly in and around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Examples include China’s funding and development of new ports and the modernisation of existing ones, such as the Trilateral Highway project in Myanmar and the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, leased to China for ninety-nine years under its Maritime Silk Road initiative, which illustrates Beijing’s debt-trap diplomacy. Thus, a renewed focus on the development of the island chain is a strategic necessity.
The strategic geographical location of the islands offers India a tactical advantage during conflicts, potentially serving as “unsinkable aircraft carriers” away from the mainland coastline. There is significant potential for India to develop dual-use facilities for both military and civilian purposes, including upgrading airfields and naval jetties to accommodate increased traffic and larger aircraft.
Conclusion
The recent initiatives by the Indian government to revamp the infrastructure of the Lakshadweep and Nicobar Islands mark a significant shift in policy, recognising their strategic importance in the evolving geopolitical landscape. With their pivotal location along crucial trade routes and potential as maritime security assets, these islands offer India a unique advantage in countering regional challenges, particularly China’s expanding influence. As development progresses, a well-coordinated approach encompassing both military and civilian interests will be crucial in harnessing the full potential of these island chains, not only for India’s security but also for asserting its maritime influence in the broader Indian Ocean Region.
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