The Great Nicobar Island, which is set to lose around 130 sq km of rainforest to a series of controversial infrastructure projects worth ₹92,000 crore, could soon also become home to a green AI data centre. The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is exploring the possibility of developing such a facility through a private sector-led project.
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The move comes after the Union government granted environmental clearances for a major infrastructure plan on Great Nicobar. The plan includes an international container terminal, an airport, a township, a power plant and tourism facilities. The administration is now looking to add a green AI or data centre project to the island’s proposed infrastructure ecosystem.
Private Sector to Assess the Island for Data Centre Build-up
In an Expression of Interest (EOI) document, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has invited private sector companies to assess the feasibility of setting up a green AI or data centre facility on Great Nicobar or Little Andaman. The invitation is open to reputed hyperscalers, cloud service providers, AI infrastructure companies, data centre developers and operators, marine engineering companies, renewable energy firms and submarine connectivity providers.
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The administration has also invited other technically qualified companies to participate. Interested entities have 45 days to submit their proposals to the Office of the Secretary (IT), with the deadline set for September 24.
The proposed green AI data centre could support hyperscale and AI-focused data centre infrastructure, along with GPU and high-performance computing systems. It could also include cloud and sovereign digital infrastructure designed to support data and computing requirements within India.
EOI’s focus on environmental impact
The EOI places a strong focus on reducing the environmental impact of the facility. The proposed data centre could use renewable energy to power its operations, along with seawater-based or other innovative cooling systems. The administration is also considering freshwater-free cooling, waste heat recovery and the possible use of recovered heat for low-temperature desalination or other applications.
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Digital connectivity is another key part of the proposal. The project could include both submarine and terrestrial connectivity to support high-speed data transmission and connect the islands with wider digital infrastructure.
Possible locations for the centre
The EOI has identified several possible locations for the data centre. On Little Andaman, these include the Hutbay Sea Area and Netaji Nagar Sea Area. On Great Nicobar, the proposed locations include Campbell Bay, Anderson Bay, Vijay Nagar Bay and Gandhi Nagar Bay.
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The administration said the purpose of the EOI is to allow private sector companies to carry out a preliminary assessment of the project’s technical, economic, environmental, operational and strategic feasibility. The assessment will also look at infrastructure needs, power requirements, cooling systems, digital connectivity, environmental safeguards, regulatory requirements and possible investment models.
The proposed data centre comes at a time when Great Nicobar is already at the centre of debate over the environmental impact of its planned infrastructure development. The addition of a large AI or data centre project could further increase the island’s infrastructure and energy requirements, making environmental safeguards and resource use important factors in determining its feasibility.
Indrani Priyadarshini is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in technology, artificial intelligence, smart cities, green energy, and digital transformation. With over four years of experience in tech journalism and digital media, she is known for turning complex industry developments into clear, engaging, and insightful stories. Her expertise spans reporting, editorial strategy, digital publishing workflows, and in-depth coverage of emerging technologies shaping the future.
