Retired Major General Dhruv Katoch has said the Great Nicobar Project will significantly expand India's military capability and give the country strategic leverage in the Six Degree Channel — the primary shipping lane connecting the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea — through which an estimated 90 per cent of the world's container traffic is projected to pass. Speaking on 9 June, Katoch also hailed the breakthrough of the country's longest Zojila Tunnel as a landmark achievement for military logistics and civilian connectivity in Ladakh.

Strategic Value of the Six Degree Channel

Katoch explained that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands form a natural arc connecting Myanmar in the north and Indonesia in the south, with the Ten Degree Channel running between the two island groups. More critically, the Six Degree Channel — south of Great Nicobar Island — serves as the principal maritime corridor from the Indian Ocean into the South China Sea and onward to the Pacific Ocean.

'Therefore, 90 per cent of the world's container traffic will pass through the Six Degree Channel. This gives India leverage by having a strong military presence there,' Katoch said. He argued that a credible Indian presence there would allow New Delhi to help ensure a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' in line with its own strategic interests.

Notably, Katoch drew a direct parallel with the Strait of Hormuz disruption during the West Asia conflict, pointing out how India was 'severely impacted' when that chokepoint came under threat. He stressed that the Six Degree Channel, which connects to the Strait of Malacca, must similarly be kept open as a matter of India's vital interest.

Trans-Shipment Port and Reduced Regional Dependence

Beyond its military dimension, the Great Nicobar Project is also being planned as a major trans-shipment port, according to Katoch. He noted that Great Nicobar offers natural deep-water harbour conditions, describing it as 'a natural harbour' with sufficient depth for large commercial vessels.

The former Army officer said the trans-shipment facility, once operational, would reduce India's dependence on Sri Lanka and Singapore for container relay operations — a significant commercial and strategic shift. On environmental concerns surrounding the project, Katoch said: 'We are preserving the environment and still doing the development.'

Zojila Tunnel: Year-Round Connectivity for Ladakh

Responding to questions on the Zojila Tunnel breakthrough, Katoch called it 'a major milestone for the country.' He said the tunnel ends a decades-long vulnerability in which Ladakh and Kargil were cut off from Srinagar by road for up to six months each year due to heavy snowfall.

'Earlier, the Army had to do winter stocking because the roads would be blocked for six months in a year. That problem is over,' he said. The tunnel will reduce transit time through the Zojila Pass from 2–3 hours to just 15–20 minutes, lowering both cost and logistical complexity for military supply chains and civilian movement alike.

India's Defence Posture and Nuclear Deterrence

Commenting on the latest Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report, which ranked India as the world's fifth-largest defence spender, Katoch said the figure must be viewed in proportion to India's status as the world's most populous country. 'Our defence expenditure is commensurate with our operational requirements,' he said.

He also addressed India's nuclear triad — the ability to deliver nuclear weapons from land, sea, and air — saying it strengthens deterrence rather than signalling offensive intent. 'India having this capability is not to promote but prevent nuclear war,' Katoch said, adding that long-range missile capability ensures that adversaries are deterred from escalation. 'It is always good to be prepared,' he noted.