Bengaluru, May 3: Retired Lieutenant General C.A. Krishnan discussed the Great Nicobar Project in an exclusive interview on Sunday. He emphasized its critical importance for India’s strategic future, asserting that it will enhance the country’s maritime presence.
In his conversation, Krishnan stated, “This project holds immense strategic significance for India. To grasp its importance, we must understand the role of the Malacca Strait. This strait connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, making it a vital route for global maritime trade, linking China to South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and even the Americas. It is one of the world’s most crucial maritime chokepoints, traversing the waters of Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. India’s Great Nicobar Island is located on the western edge of this route, directly opposite Indonesia’s Sabang Port. Its proximity of about 180 km means that a significant portion of global trade passes very close to its shores, highlighting the island’s strategic importance.”
Discussing the project’s significance, he remarked, “This is a package of strategic advantages that has been a blessing for us. It has been available for decades, but we have not fully utilized it. It is situated on the northern edge of one of the busiest shipping routes. The entire Bay of Bengal area lies between India’s eastern coast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, making it crucial for maritime surveillance and influence. Maintaining a strong hold over sovereign areas like Great Nicobar is essential. Without it, our ability to monitor activities in these waters will remain limited.”
Krishnan pointed out that “approximately 75 percent of India’s transshipment currently occurs via Colombo and Singapore. If this project develops as planned, a significant portion can be managed domestically, attracting global shipping traffic. This project offers strategic, economic, and military benefits. By 2047, when India aims to become a developed nation, we should possess substantial strategic influence, both militarily and economically. It is not about aggression, but about having the capability and strength that commands respect for our influence. This project will provide a robust naval base and a greenfield airbase, further strengthening India’s maritime presence. Its combined strategic, economic, and defense benefits will help India assert its rightful influence in this region of the world.”
He added, “In a hypothetical scenario, if something were to happen in the Malacca Strait, it would be catastrophic for the world, as alternative routes like the Sunda Strait or Lombok Strait do not match its capacity and would cause significant delays and logistical challenges. However, the likelihood of such a situation arising in the near future is low, given the absence of military or ideological rivalries among countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia that could lead to conflict. The only unpredictable risk may stem from broader global tensions, but overall, the stability of the Malacca region is relatively high compared to other strategic chokepoints like Hormuz.”
He noted, “Previously, India’s responses to events in this region were often criticized, many of which did not even fall within India’s exclusive economic zone. Now, our focus should be on strengthening our own strategic infrastructure, such as Great Nicobar. Located very close to key points in the region—about 180-190 km from Sumatra, 500 km from Phuket, 700 km from Penang, and 1,250 km from Singapore—it is significantly farther from Chennai (1,600 km) and Kolkata (2,000 km). This clearly shows the substantial strategic advantage India gains from sovereign ownership of an island on one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.”
Krishnan expressed optimism about India emerging as a major global power by 2047, stating, “This project reinforces that direction and significantly enhances India’s capacity to monitor maritime activities. Today, vessels, including submarines and survey ships, can enter the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean via the Malacca Strait, and our ability to monitor them is limited. With this infrastructure, India will have much better information about such activities. While we will operate entirely within legal frameworks and not interfere unlawfully, our surveillance capabilities will improve significantly. From this perspective, no major power would welcome increased monitoring capabilities in this region. It is natural that any such project impacts strategic interests, and it would not be surprising if attempts are made globally to thwart or influence it in various ways.”
Krishnan underscored the importance of the Great Nicobar Project, stating, “The Great Nicobar Project must happen; it is extremely important. In my opinion, it could be one of the most strategically significant projects in India’s post-independence history. Therefore, for those concerned about the environment, it is better not to oppose this project but to ensure strict adherence to all conditions set for environmental approval. The focus should be on the government and the implementing agencies to ensure that every safety measure is properly enforced and the environmental impact on the ground is minimized.”
He concluded by saying, “We must remain vigilant and continuously assess the opposition to the Great Nicobar Project.”
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