The Centre has decided to build a new Rs 13,000-crore greenfield civil-military airport as part of the Great Nicobar project instead of expanding the existing naval airfield at INS Baaz, a move that comes amid an intensifying political battle over the Rs 81,000-crore mega development project on the ecologically sensitive island.
The decision effectively shelves long-standing plans to extend the runway at the Indian Navy’s INS Baaz air station in Campbell Bay.
Strategic location near Malacca Strait
Government and defence sources said the proposed dual-use airport will come up at Chingen, near Galathea Bay, and will cater to both civilian and military aviation requirements. The facility is expected to become a key component of India’s strategic infrastructure in the eastern Indian Ocean, close to the vital Malacca Strait shipping route.
The new airport is expected to be completed within five years and will remain under naval operational control while serving civilian aviation needs.
Why INS Baaz expansion was dropped
According to sources, studies found that lengthening the existing 4,500-foot runway to around 10,000 feet would be difficult because of terrain limitations, navigational challenges and the need for extensive supporting infrastructure. Officials also concluded that a runway expansion could have a greater impact on tribal settlements, forests and wildlife habitats than the proposed greenfield airport.
Officials argue that the greenfield site provides greater room for future expansion and strengthens India’s military reach, surveillance capabilities and logistics footprint in the strategically important Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
Part of larger Rs 81,000-crore project
The airport is one of four major infrastructure components proposed under the Great Nicobar Island Development Project, whose overall cost is estimated at around Rs 81,000 crore. The broader plan includes a transshipment port, power infrastructure and township development aimed at transforming the island into a major economic and strategic hub.
Political opposition
The latest airport announcement comes days after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi renewed his attack on the Great Nicobar project following a visit to the islands and a scuba-diving expedition near its coral reefs.
Gandhi has described the project as “one of the biggest scams” and “one of the gravest crimes against the natural and tribal heritage of the country”. He has alleged that the development would result in the destruction of vast stretches of rainforest, the felling of more than 1.5 crore trees, damage to coral reefs and displacement of indigenous communities, including the vulnerable Shompen tribe.
Government’s defence
The government has consistently defended the project as a critical strategic investment that would strengthen India’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region and improve connectivity to one of the country’s most remote territories.
The new airport at Chingen is expected to be completed within five years, enhancing India’s military surveillance capabilities and logistics footprint in the strategically vital Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
