New Delhi, June 8: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands represent India’s southernmost frontier. This region is strategically significant, located close to the Malacca Strait. Approximately 80% of China’s crude oil and 70% of its LNG transit through this vital maritime route. The Indian government is preparing to enhance the region’s identity, recognizing its strategic and commercial importance.
Under the comprehensive development plan for the Great Nicobar Islands (GNI), the central government has included four major projects. These consist of an International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP), a dual-use greenfield airport, a naval air station, a township, and a power plant.
According to senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the government plans to invest ₹13,000 crore to construct an airport and runway for both naval and civilian use. This investment will be jointly managed by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The project is expected to be completed within five years. The proposed dual-use greenfield airport and naval air station in Great Nicobar will strengthen India’s continuous presence in the region. It will also enhance the movement of military resources, support operations, monitor maritime routes, provide rapid response in crises, and maintain logistics in forward areas.
The Great Nicobar Islands are located near the 6-Degree Channel, a crucial part of the maritime trade route stretching from the Gulf of Aden to the Malacca Strait. This area is approximately 40 kilometers from this maritime route, through which about two-thirds of the world’s energy trade and half of container transport occurs.
The Indian Navy’s air station, INS Baaz, has been operational since 2012 to ensure the security of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Initially, this airfield started with a 3,500-foot runway, which has since been extended to 4,500 feet. Plans to further extend the runway to 10,000 feet have been proposed, but this requires significant land acquisition and marine reclamation.
According to defence officials, five alternative sites were evaluated for establishing the greenfield airport, including INS Baaz. Factors such as topography, potential obstacles in air navigation, impact on tribal populations, and effects on flora and fauna were considered. After a detailed study, Galathia Bay was selected as the most suitable location for the greenfield airport.
Additionally, the possibility of developing INS Baaz as a brownfield project was also considered, but this option was discarded due to various practical limitations. The presence of mountains over 80 meters high to the north of the area necessitates extensive hill cutting and dredging for safe operations of large aircraft.
Moreover, the existing infrastructure around the small runway at INS Baaz does not meet the safety standards required for a Code-4 category runway. This situation would necessitate the removal of current facilities. Future expansion possibilities are also limited, and the site cannot accommodate the infrastructure needed for an international airport.
Officials noted that choosing INS Baaz for the brownfield airport would have a relatively greater impact on tribal populations, flora, and fauna. Therefore, the new project will develop a greenfield airport approximately 30 kilometers away from INS Baaz.
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