Government Approves New Great Nicobar Airport Project
The Centre has approved a new ₹13,000-crore greenfield airport project in Great Nicobar Island, replacing earlier plans to expand the Indian Navy’s INS Baaz air station. The dual-use airport, designed for both civilian and military operations, will be developed at Chingen near Galathea Bay and is expected to become one of India’s most strategically important aviation hubs in the eastern Indian Ocean region. The decision marks a major shift in the island’s long-term infrastructure strategy and signals the government’s intent to strengthen maritime surveillance, trade connectivity, and regional security capabilities.
Strategic Background and Shift from INS Baaz
For years, the government had considered expanding INS Baaz at Campbell Bay by extending its runway from 4,500 feet to nearly 10,000 feet. However, the proposal reportedly faced delays linked to land acquisition and clearances. The newly approved airport project now replaces that plan entirely.
The new facility is strategically significant because of its proximity to the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest and most sensitive maritime trade corridors. A substantial share of global shipping traffic and energy transportation passes through this route every day. By establishing a modern civil-military airport in Great Nicobar, India aims to strengthen its operational reach, surveillance capability, and rapid-response preparedness across the Indo-Pacific region.
The Larger Great Nicobar Vision
The airport forms a crucial part of the larger Great Nicobar Island Development Project, whose estimated investment stands at nearly ₹81,000 crore. Apart from the airport, the project includes a transshipment port, township development, and power infrastructure designed to transform the island into a major economic and strategic gateway.
Government estimates suggest the airport will be completed within five years and initially handle around 1.35 million passengers annually by 2040, with the capacity to manage 4,000 peak-hour passengers. Officials argue that the project will improve connectivity, boost economic activity, and reinforce India’s geopolitical presence in the Indian Ocean.
At the same time, the project has triggered environmental concerns because it requires diversion of nearly 130.75 square kilometres of forest land and the removal of around 964,000 trees. Authorities maintain that more than half of the project area will continue to remain under green cover.
Rahul Gandhi’s Criticism and Political Opposition
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticised the Great Nicobar project following his recent visit and scuba-diving expedition near the island’s coral reefs. He described the initiative as “one of the biggest scams” and accused the government of damaging rainforests, coral ecosystems, and indigenous heritage.
Gandhi alleged that the project could threaten vulnerable tribal communities, particularly the Shompen tribe, through environmental destruction and increased outside exposure. However, government officials have denied any proposed displacement of tribal populations and defended the project as one of national importance. The National Green Tribunal has also cleared the project.
Balancing Strategic Expansion with Ecological and Tribal Concerns
The Great Nicobar airport project represents one of India’s most ambitious strategic infrastructure initiatives in recent years. While the government sees it as essential for maritime security, trade expansion, and regional influence, critics continue to raise questions over environmental sustainability and tribal protection. The project’s long-term success will depend on whether India can balance national strategic ambitions with ecological preservation and responsible development.
(With agency inputs)
