The central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially designated Galathea Bay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a “major port” for international transshipment. This places the Union Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Ministry in official administrative charge of the proposed Rs 44,000 crore mega project. Furthermore, it will be created using the public-private partnership model and is qualified to receive funding from the centre.
Currently, the Indian government controls 12 major ports that are in operation, while the states are in charge of 200 minor ports. Approximately 65 of the 200 minor ports are used for cargo, with the remaining ports serving as passenger terminals for small ferries and fishing boats. A significant portion of transshipped goods handled at ports outside of India will be captured by the Galathea Bay project once it becomes operational.
The planned facility is expected to be built in four stages. Phase 1 is expected to have a handling capacity of roughly four million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and be put into service in 2028. Phase 2 will likely be finished by 2058 and have a handling capacity of 16 million TEUs.
The development of three megaports, namely the Vadhavan-Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) Cluster, Paradip Port, and Deendayal Port, has also been approved. These will be transformed into mega ports with an annual capacity exceeding 300 million tonnes (MTPA). Four port clusters with a capacity of more than 300 MTPA and two with a capacity of more than 500 MTPA will be created under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
