The central government of India is planning to invest about INR 13,000 crore for the construction of a dual-airport in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This project will be constructed under the Great Nicobar Islands development projects. The investment in building this dual-airport and runway will be an important step towards strengthening India’s military readiness and civilian connectivity. Here’s everything you must know about this new development.
Great Nicobar Island To Soon Get A Dual-Airport
This new airport will be open to both the Indian Navy and civilians. The budget will be shared by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Defence Ministry. The dual-airport project is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening India’s presence in the Andaman Sea and across Southeast Asia. It looks at balancing the protection of indigenous communities and environmental safeguards with port-led growth.
The project is set to combine strategic, ecological, and economic priorities. With this, it ensures that Great Nicobar’s development is inclusive, sustainable, and in line with national interests.
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It is strategically located near the Strait of Malacca, which will enhance India’s ability to keep a watch on one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
Here are some of the main goals or constructions under this project:
- Greenfield International Airport with a 4000 Peak Hour Passengers (PHP)
- New Township spanning 16,610 hectares
- International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) with a capacity of 14.2 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU)
- 450 Megavolt Ampere (MVA) gas and solar-based power plant.
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Balancing Social, Environmental And Economic Goals
An official PIB release stated that the development is set to follow a holistic and sensitive approach. It aims to protect the ecological resources of the island and also considers the needs of the indigenous communities. The cultural, social, and environmental impacts are carefully evaluated. This plan prioritises all those options that balance social, environmental, and economic goals.
This dual-airport project will be carried out in three distinct phases. It will cover a total area of 166.10 square km. This will include about 130.75 square km of forest land and 35.35 square km of revenue land.
The Nicobar Islands are home to the aboriginal Mongoloid tribes, about 1,094 Nicobarese and about 237 Shompens. Among these Shompens are hunter-gatherers, while Nicobarese survive mainly on fishing.
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Summing Up
India is planning to invest INR 13,000 crore for the construction of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is expected to be completed in the next five years and will strengthen both civilian connectivity and military readiness.
