Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh on Friday alleged that the proposed Great Nicobar port project could eventually become part of what the opposition terms the “Modani empire” and argued that expanding the naval air station INS Baaz at Campbell Bay would do more to strengthen India’s strategic capabilities.
In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh questioned the strategic rationale often cited in support of the ambitious infrastructure project in Great Nicobar and suggested that military objectives would be better served through the expansion of existing defence facilities in the region.
“Indeed. And pretty soon the Great Nicobar port will be part of the Modani empire. It really does not add to our military infrastructure. Expansion of INS Baaz on Campbell Bay would add to strategic capabilities,” Ramesh said.
The Congress leader’s remarks come amid continuing political debate over the proposed international transshipment port and large-scale infrastructure development planned for Great Nicobar Island, one of the most southerly islands of India and a strategically located territory near key maritime routes in the Indian Ocean.
The Great Nicobar development project, which includes a transshipment port, airport, power infrastructure and township development, has been projected by the government as a major initiative aimed at boosting connectivity, economic activity and maritime capabilities. Supporters of the project argue that it could strengthen India’s position in regional shipping and logistics networks while enhancing the strategic significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
However, the project has also faced criticism from opposition parties, environmental groups and some experts, who have raised concerns over its ecological impact, implications for local communities and the rationale behind various components of the development plan.
Ramesh has been among the most vocal critics of the project, frequently questioning its environmental clearances and broader implications. His latest comments add a strategic dimension to the debate, with the Congress leader contending that investment in the expansion of INS Baaz, India’s southernmost military air station located at Campbell Bay in Great Nicobar, would provide a more direct boost to the country’s defence preparedness and maritime surveillance capabilities.
The government has maintained that the Great Nicobar project is designed to balance developmental, economic and strategic objectives while adhering to environmental safeguards and statutory requirements.
