India has approved the construction of a ₹13,000-crore greenfield airport at Great Nicobar Island, which will serve both civilian and military purposes. Andaman and Nicobar region connectivity and strategic infrastructure will be strengthened with this decision.
The new airport is designed for dual operations, for commercial passenger traffic and for defense purposes. The Nicobar Islands' tourism potential will be enhanced and India’s security in the Indian Ocean will be enhanced, officials said.
Great Nicobar Island is located at the southernmost tip of the country and has great strategic significance for the country. Its location in the international shipping lanes also provides a good site to track maritime activity. The airport will be a key axis for economic development and national defense and hence the country’s overall development and national defense goal of building a new center of power in the Indo-Pacific.
The project, which is estimated to be about ₹13,000 crore, will be a greenfield project in nature and will be built from scratch as opposed to adding to existing infrastructure. Environmental safeguards will be put first, the island’s rich biodiversity and ecological sensitivity has not been underestimated, and sustainable construction practices and robust monitoring will be part of the plan.
Tourism stakeholders have welcomed the move with the view that better air connectivity could make Great Nicobar a major destination for eco-tourism and adventure travel. And defense experts see the airport as a critical asset for India’s military to deploy and improve surveillance capabilities in the region faster.
Finally, approval of the Great Nicobar greenfield airport will be a dual-purpose investment in India’s future. There will be a positive impact on both civilian benefits and military benefits and it is evidence that the Indian government will support this development and at the same time will put the country on the path of development to become a great island infrastructure player in the future.
