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India Moves to Build Strategic Great Nicobar Airport to Strengthen Defence Grip in Indian Ocean
Summary: India has begun work on the strategically crucial Great Nicobar International Airport, a dual-use facility that will boost military readiness, cut response time, and open a new global tourism gateway near key international sea lanes.
India has taken a major strategic step in the Indian Ocean Region with the Narendra Modi government initiating work on the Great Nicobar International Airport, one of the most ambitious and sensitive infrastructure projects in recent years.
Exclusive documents accessed by CNN-NEWS18 reveal that the proposed airport will significantly enhance India’s defence capabilities, allow operations of larger military aircraft, and sharply reduce reaction time for air and naval platforms operating in the eastern Indian Ocean.
Why Great Nicobar Is a Strategic Goldmine
Great Nicobar Island lies at India’s southernmost edge, close to the Six Degree Channel, through which a large share of global maritime trade passes. Its location gives India a natural vantage point over critical sea lanes connecting Asia, Africa and the Indo-Pacific.
Currently, the nearest major airbase at Port Blair is over 500 kilometres away, limiting rapid deployment. Once operational, the Great Nicobar airport will dramatically improve India’s ability to monitor, respond and project power across the region.
Indonesia’s Sumatra island is just 180 km south, underlining the project’s geopolitical importance.
Dual-Use Airport: Military Control, Civil Growth
The airport is planned as a dual-use facility, balancing national security needs with civilian connectivity:
- Indian Navy will control air traffic services and airside operations
- Airports Authority of India (AAI) will manage civilian terminals and passenger infrastructure
Civil operations will follow the joint-use model already in place at several naval air stations across India. A detailed operational framework will be finalised before commercial flights begin.
Designed for Larger Military Aircraft
Documents show the airfield will be capable of handling bigger defence platforms, extending India’s operational reach deep into the eastern Indian Ocean.
The master layout also allows:
- Future runway and taxiway expansion
- Gradual scaling as defence and civilian traffic increases
- Separate planning for military air movements from the early 2030s
Balancing Development and Ecology
Great Nicobar Island spans about 910 sq km and is largely covered by dense rainforest, with much of it falling under the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. It is also home to the Shompen and Nicobarese tribal communities.
To address environmental sensitivity:
- Only essential hill cutting is proposed to meet aviation safety norms
- Excavated earth will be reused within the island
- Flight paths are aligned over the sea, avoiding low-altitude flights over settlements
Authorities say the design meets DGCA and ICAO standards while minimising ecological disruption.
Ending Isolation, Opening Tourism Potential
Beyond defence, the airport is expected to transform civilian life on the island, which has remained geographically isolated for decades.
Interestingly, global tourist hubs like Phuket and Langkawi are within 500 km, while mainland India lies more than 1,500 km away. This makes Great Nicobar well-placed to emerge as a premium eco-tourism and island destination in the long run.
Traffic projections estimate:
- Population of around 3.25 lakh by 2040
- Annual passenger potential of 1.35 million
- Initial focus on domestic flights, with international services added later
The master plan follows a 50-year development horizon till 2075, ensuring phased and demand-based growth.
Green, Modern and Future-Ready Terminal
The passenger terminal will be:
- Carbon-neutral in operations
- Compliant with GRIHA-5 sustainability standards
- Powered by renewable energy systems
- Designed with local Nicobarese cultural elements
Commercial spaces have been planned carefully to ensure long-term viability without compromising passenger comfort.
A Strategic Gateway, Not Just an Airport
Officials view the Great Nicobar International Airport as far more than a transport hub. It is a strategic gateway that strengthens India’s maritime security, expands defence reach, drives economic opportunity and firmly anchors India’s presence in the Indian Ocean.
Keywords: Great Nicobar Airport Project,IndiaDefenceInfrastructure,Andaman Nicobar Strategic Development
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