Sri Vijaya Puram, June 21: Positioning the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as one of India’s most strategically significant frontiers, Lieutenant Governor Admiral DK Joshi on Saturday outlined an ambitious roadmap for infrastructure, energy, maritime and economic development during his special address at the Andaman Ideas Summit 2026.
Addressing policymakers, industry leaders, experts and stakeholders gathered at the summit, the Lieutenant Governor said the islands, long viewed as a distant outpost, are increasingly being recognised as a vital strategic and economic asset for India. He noted that decades of underinvestment and neglect are gradually being addressed through focused government initiatives aimed at unlocking the archipelago’s potential.
“The islands occupy a critical frontier position,” he observed, stressing that their location in the Indian Ocean Region gives them immense geopolitical and economic significance.
A major focus of his address was the ongoing transformation of the islands’ energy sector. Admiral Joshi said the administration is pursuing a transition away from diesel-based power generation towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix. Over the next four years, the target is to generate nearly 71 per cent of the islands’ power through solar energy, supplemented by approximately 20 per cent LNG-based generation and hydroelectric sources.
The shift, he said, is intended to support long-term development while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and lowering environmental impacts.
Looking ahead to future energy requirements, particularly in the context of large-scale infrastructure projects, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted the potential role of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). He said SMRs could provide reliable baseload power to support rapid development in regions such as Great Nicobar, where ambitious infrastructure projects are planned.
Referring to Great Nicobar Island, he described it as an area with enormous untapped potential. He noted that the island’s geographical size is roughly one-and-a-half times that of Singapore, despite having a fraction of its population, creating opportunities for planned and sustainable growth.
Admiral Joshi also highlighted major improvements in digital connectivity, describing them as a transformative development for the islands. He said bandwidth availability increased dramatically from just 3.2 Gbps before 2020 to approximately 200 Gbps following the commissioning of the submarine optical fibre cable network. The enhanced connectivity, he said, has improved communication, enabled digital services and strengthened prospects for business and investment.
On transportation infrastructure, the Lieutenant Governor pointed to progress in road development across the islands. He specifically referred to a 320-kilometre road stretch that has historically faced delays and escalating costs, stating that work is progressing and the corridor is expected to be completed as a double-lane road by next year.
Maritime infrastructure featured prominently in his address. Discussing the proposed International Container Transshipment Port at Great Nicobar, Admiral Joshi said the project is being developed through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Once fully operational, the port is expected to handle up to 21 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually.
Such capacity, he said, would place the facility among India’s leading container handling ports and strengthen the country’s position in global shipping and logistics networks. The project is expected to leverage the islands’ strategic location near some of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
The Lieutenant Governor also pointed to emerging opportunities in offshore energy exploration. He revealed that areas previously designated as “no-go zones” because of missile and rocket launch trajectories have now been opened for exploration activities. Subsequent surveys and drilling efforts by Oil India Limited and ONGC have resulted in the discovery of oil and gas reserves in offshore areas.
According to Admiral Joshi, the development has generated significant interest from the energy sector, with large exploration blocks in the Andaman Basin currently under auction. He said several major international oil companies have shown interest in these opportunities, raising prospects of substantial future investment.
If exploration efforts continue to yield positive results, he suggested, the islands could emerge as an important energy and economic hub in the region, creating new avenues for employment, infrastructure development and industrial growth.
The address formed a key part of the Andaman Ideas Summit 2026, which brought together stakeholders from government, industry and academia to deliberate on the future trajectory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands amid growing national and international interest in the region.
