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Post-Tsunami, Housing and Rehabilitation Project, Car Nicobar Island

Building permanent, disaster-resilient shelters to restore critical humanitarian infrastructure

Post-Tsunami, Housing and Rehabilitation Project, Car Nicobar Island

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Project Context

After the 2004 tsunami, the Central Public Works Department ordered the urgent construction of 4,334 single-storey permanent shelters across Car Nicobar and Little Andaman.

The program replaced temporary camps with resilient homes and restored independent power, sanitation and water supply to thousands of displaced families.

Structural Reinforcement

01 / Structural Reinforcement

Continuous Operations

02 / Continuous Operations

Modernized Standards

03 / Modernized Standards

Execution Challenge

All aggregates, skilled workers and equipment had to cross open sea from the mainland.

The islands had no deep-water ports or cargo berths, so materials moved ship to shore in rough surf.

A six-month monsoon shortened the working season, and with no local manufacturing, the team built self-sufficient engineering camps from scratch.

Strategic Role

Mr Avarrsekar led the bid strategy around maritime logistics and set up a central governance office to manage risk across sea channels.

Working with public works committees and tribal councils, he cleared design changes quickly to protect the schedule.

Actions Taken

- Ran a multi-island parallel schedule so superstructure work proceeded concurrently.

- Set up mainland consolidation hubs at the Chennai and Kolkata ports.

- Engineered a landing system using shallow-draft vessels to beach materials directly ashore.

- Built self-sufficient island camps with captive concrete batching and power.

- Used satellite weather monitoring to time open-sea cargo transits.

Outcome

The turnaround delivered 4,334 single-storied permanent shelters completely equipped with independent electrical, water, and sanitary infrastructure, permanently stabilizing local socioeconomic lifelines.

Engineered to withstand Seismic Zone V parameters, the asset establishes a national benchmark for remote post-disaster public infrastructure execution.

For industry leaders, it demonstrates how aligning complex maritime logistics with objective procurement criteria yields highly predictable, resilient assets that safeguard public safety.

Technical Data of Record

Scope of Work

Turnkey construction of 4,334 permanent single-storey shelters with internal water supply, sanitation and electrification across multiple islands.

Key Specifications & Challenges

RCC foundations rated for Seismic Zone V and anti-corrosive materials for marine salinity. Complete isolation with no local materials or labour, open-sea logistics without deep-water berths, and a six-month monsoon.

Major Deliverables

4,334 shelters, plumbing, sanitary assets, electrification grids and self-sufficient island encampments.

Result

Permanent housing restored, with 100% material traceability, satellite weather tracking and health and vector-control measures in labour camps.

Client

Central Public Works Department (CPWD) - Andaman Central Division

Location

Car Nicobar and Little Andaman Islands, Andaman & Nicobar Archipelago, India

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