India to aid Seychelles despite infrastructure plan hurdle

NEW DELHI: India is giving financial support to five civilian projects in Seychelles amounting to $8.36 million, notwithstanding the fact that Delhi’s plans to build military infrastructure on Assumption Island in the strategically located Indian Ocean country has hit a rough patch.

Of the total $ 8.36 million support, $3.45 million will be devoted towards the construction of a state-of-the-art Magistrate’s Court with all modern amenities in Seychelles capital Victoria, officials informed ET.

“The tendering process has ended and construction work is expected to start soon. This would be the first construction project to be financed by India in Seychelles,” an official informed.


Interestingly the Victoria Magistrate’s Court will be located side by side with the judiciary building built by China. Seychelles has a judiciary building -- the Palais de Justice -- that opened in 2013 at Ile du Port, a man-made island on the outskirts of the capital Victoria.

The $6 million building financed by the Chinese government in partnership with the Seychelles’ government does not have enough space to house the Magistrate’s Court. The announcement of the grants comes amidst a controversy in Seychelles as to whether the island nation should allow India to use one of its outer islands -- Assumption -- as a military base.

The government of Seychelles supports the plan but the opposition members in the National Assembly and many citizens are reportedly against it. India is also giving a grant of $3.5 million to the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) to purchase 71 buses from TATA Motors. Earlier this month, SPTC deputy chief executive Maxwell Julie told media in Seychelles that the company which is operating 89 routes on a daily basis, is facing some serious operational constraints including a shortage of buses.

“This is caused in parts by the need to replace 71 SPTC buses that are constantly being repaired,” said Julie. The new fleet of buses which is expected to arrivein Seychelles by this June will be equipped with modern features.