India's Great Nicobar mega-project threatens rare species and million trees while targeting Singapore's port trade

India is developing the Great Nicobar Island — covering an area twice the size of Manhattan — into a hub featuring a civilian and military airport, a transshipment port, a power plant, and a new town capable of hosting one million tourists annually. Environmentalists warn that over a million trees will be felled and endangered species including leatherback turtles and the Nicobarese pigeon will face severe habitat loss. The project is partly framed as countering China's Indian Ocean dominance and challenging Singapore's and Sri Lanka's positions as regional transshipment hubs — with analysts noting that Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions from the Iran war have added urgency.