Overview
- The administration issued a market‑sounding Expression of Interest to private firms on Monday and then withdrew the EoI on Friday with a notice saying it “stands withdrawn with immediate effect due to administrative reasons.”
- The EoI described an advanced, renewable‑powered data‑centre vertical with GPU and high‑performance computing capacity and cooling options that aimed to avoid using freshwater.
- Officials named specific sea locations on Great Nicobar and Little Andaman for the proposal, including Campbell Bay, Anderson Bay, Vijay Nagar Bay, Gandhi Nagar Bay, Hutbay Sea and Netaji Nagar Sea.
- The call came beside the much larger Great Nicobar infrastructure plan, which covers about 166 sq km, has pending petitions in the Calcutta High Court and has drawn expert and local concerns over impacts on the Shompen, Nicobarese and endemic biodiversity.
- The withdrawal halts private‑sector feasibility work and raises practical next steps to watch: whether the administration issues a fuller explanation, reopens the EoI, or allows courts and tribal consultations to shape any future proposals.