New Delhi, June 8 -- The ambitious Great Nicobar Islands project is set to emerge not only as one of India's strategic maritime and economic focal points, but also to ensure environmental protection and safeguards for the tribal communities, defence sources said on Monday.

The project will leverage the proximity to the international maritime routes and Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) and also reduce dependence on foreign transhipment ports on one hand and facilitate a stronger presence of India's defence forces on the other, the sources have said.

The Government of India envisaged the holistic development of the Great Nicobar Islands (GNI) with four interlinked projects, namely- International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP); Joint...