Great Nicobar dual-use airport likely to be ‘ready in 5 years’

Published 8 June 2026 · local

NEW DELHI: Considering the strategic and economic benefits of Great Nicobar Islands (GNI) development projects, the greenfield airport approved by the Cabinet last November “is

NEW DELHI: Considering the strategic and economic benefits of Great Nicobar Islands (GNI) development projects, the greenfield airport approved by the Cabinet last November “is expected to be ready within five years and will be under the operational control of the Indian Navy,” defence sources have said.“The dual-use airport to be used for civilian and military purposes shall enhance India's maritime domain awareness and operational outreach,” the sources said, adding, “initial tendering is underway for the airport. Other projects are in the pipeline.”For holistic development of GNI, three interlinked projects besides the greenfield airfield and naval air station have been envisaged are International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP), a township and a power plant. The total cost of all four projects is estimated at Rs 81,000 crore. “The GNI project is even more important due to potentially important hydrocarbon deposits in the sea near the islands,” a source said.Highlighting its strategic importance, the source said the project would grant India the ability to sustain its presence, move its assets, support operations, and monitor and maintain forward logistics close to its theatre of interest.“The project should have been executed 30 years ago,” the sources said.The runway at INS Baaz, the Indian naval air station in A&N Islands, will not be part of the GNI project.

The possibility of INS Baaz being developed as a brownfield project met with limitations, which forced the idea to be dropped. The site is dominated by a hill feature on the north, which is over 80m high. Significant hill cutting and dredging of the shallow coastline would have been required to ensure safe aviation for wide-bodied aircraft. The site has a limited scope for future expansion and would not be able to accommodate the infrastructure required for an international airport.The GNI is located only 40 km from the Six Degree Channel astride the sea trade route, which extends from the Gulf of Aden to the Malacca Straits. Two-thirds of the world's oil and half of the world's container traffic pass through this sensitive area. Various regional and extra-regional powers have increased their military and economic presence in the IOR. In view of this, GNI project shall augment India's ability to operate in the south-eastern IOR, thereby enhancing its stature as a preferred security partner and as a first responder.On allegations of commercial reasons driving the project, the source said, “Criticism that it is a commercial project being disguised as a strategic one is based on geographical illiteracy.” Besides the strategic reason, govt’s focus is on GNI’s overall development.