Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday, 20 June 2026 reviewed the ongoing construction of the Sea Port Terminal at Swaraj Dweep in South Andaman District, underscoring the central government's continued push to upgrade maritime infrastructure across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Context

Swaraj Dweep — formerly known as Havelock Island and renamed in 2018 as part of a broader decolonisation of place names — is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island draws thousands of visitors annually for its beaches and coral reefs, yet its connectivity to Port Blair and the mainland has long depended on ageing ferry infrastructure. A dedicated sea port terminal is seen as critical to handling growing passenger and freight volumes sustainably.

Rijiju shared photographs from his site visit, stating that infrastructure development and connectivity have 'emerged as key drivers of progress, transforming lives and unlocking new opportunities across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit was tagged under the ruling party's #12YearsOfSeva campaign, marking twelve years of the Modi government.

Policy Backdrop

The sea port terminal project sits within a layered policy framework that the central government has built for island connectivity since 2014. The Sagarmala Project, launched in 2015, identified port-led development as a national priority and extended its ambit to coastal union territories including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A Comprehensive Island Development Programme approved in 2019–20 further earmarked investments for ports, airports and roads across the archipelago.

In 2018, the Ministry of Tourism and the Andaman and Nicobar administration unveiled integrated development plans specifically for Swaraj Dweep, focusing on tourism-linked infrastructure. The sea port terminal under construction is consistent with that roadmap, aiming to ease inter-island movement and reduce dependence on weather-vulnerable small-craft services.

Stakeholders and Impact

Island residents stand to benefit most directly from a modern port terminal, which would improve access to essential goods, medical services and employment opportunities. The tourism sector — a primary economic driver for Swaraj Dweep — is expected to see higher visitor throughput once the terminal is operational, as better berthing facilities can accommodate larger vessels and reduce travel time uncertainty.

Maritime trade and logistics operators also have a stake in the project, as improved port infrastructure lowers costs for transporting supplies to the island. From a strategic standpoint, enhanced port capacity in the Bay of Bengal archipelago aligns with India's broader maritime security interests in the region.

What's Next

The completion timeline and commissioning date of the Swaraj Dweep Sea Port Terminal have not been officially announced. Rijiju's site review suggests active ministerial monitoring of the project's progress, which could accelerate administrative decisions on resource allocation and contractor timelines. Parliamentary questions and budgetary allocations for Andaman and Nicobar port projects in the upcoming session will be a key indicator of how quickly the government intends to push the terminal to operationalisation.

If commissioned on schedule, the terminal would mark a significant milestone in the central government's decade-long effort to transform the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from an under-connected frontier into a self-sustaining economic and strategic hub in the Indian Ocean.