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The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has proposed protection and development works for the Indira Point Lighthouse on Great Nicobar Island. The project seeks to conserve the historic lighthouse, strengthen coastal protection and develop eco-tourism infrastructure, subject to approvals under the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) Notification, 2019.

About Indira Point

Indira Point is the southernmost point of India, located on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It lies south of Galathea Bay, where the Government has proposed an international transshipment port under the Great Nicobar Island Mega Infrastructure Project.

The Indira Point Lighthouse is an important navigational landmark on the Singapore–Colombo international shipping route and is expected to play an even greater role in guiding vessels to the proposed transshipment port.

Originally known as Pygmalion Point, the location was renamed Indira Point in 1985 in memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The lighthouse, commissioned in April 1972, is 35 metres high and is distinguished by its red-and-white cast-iron tower.

Proposed Development Works

The project aims to preserve the lighthouse while improving visitor facilities and ensuring safe maritime navigation.

The proposal includes strengthening the lighthouse foundation, constructing an all-weather approach road, building shore protection structures such as breakwaters, and developing operational infrastructure including inspection facilities, a powerhouse, staff quarters, compound walls and internal pathways.

In addition, tourism-oriented facilities such as an eco-tourism zone, viewing tower, convention centre, cafeteria, museum, cycle tracks and memorial have also been proposed to promote sustainable tourism at India's southernmost point.

Environmental Concerns

The proposed works fall within ecologically sensitive areas governed by the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) Notification, 2019 and therefore require prior approval from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Coastal Zone Management Authority and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Most of the project area lies within ICRZ-IA, the most environmentally sensitive category, which includes mangroves, coral reefs, sand dunes, mudflats, turtle nesting grounds, notified forests and protected areas. Some portions also fall under ICRZ-IVA, covering coastal waters and the seabed up to 12 nautical miles from the coast.

The project therefore highlights the need to balance infrastructure development with biodiversity conservation in one of India's most ecologically fragile island ecosystems.

Why is Protection Necessary?

The Indira Point Lighthouse has been severely affected since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The disaster caused significant land subsidence across the Nicobar Islands, with Great Nicobar sinking by nearly 2 metres. As a result, the lighthouse foundation became permanently exposed to seawater and strong wave action.

Subsequent assessments by IIT Madras indicate that continuous coastal erosion, shoreline changes and marine exposure have weakened the structure. Although the lighthouse currently exhibits a 3.86° tilt, studies suggest that its structural stability remains intact. Nevertheless, strengthening measures are considered essential for its long-term preservation.

Significance

The conservation of Indira Point is strategically important because it combines maritime safety, national infrastructure, heritage conservation and coastal security. The lighthouse remains a critical navigational aid along one of the world's busiest shipping corridors, while the proposed development supports India's broader maritime vision in the Bay of Bengal.

At the same time, the project demonstrates the challenge of balancing economic development with environmental conservation in the ecologically sensitive Great Nicobar Island, which forms part of the globally significant Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.

Way Forward

The restoration of Indira Point should follow environmentally sustainable engineering practices with strict adherence to the ICRZ Notification, 2019. Integrating disaster-resilient infrastructure, coastal ecosystem conservation and regulated eco-tourism will be essential for preserving both the lighthouse and the fragile island environment.