India Begins Construction of Second Strategic Airport on Great Nicobar Amid Rising China Tensions

New Delhi: In response to China’s growing ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, India has officially commenced construction of a second airport on the strategically crucial Great Nicobar Island. Situated near the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for China and the Far East, the new airport aims to strengthen India’s defense and strategic preparedness.

Strategic Location:
The new airport will be located at Chingen, near Galathea Bay, in the southernmost region of India, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It lies approximately 150 kilometers northwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia, and close to the shipping lanes of the Malacca Strait.

Great Nicobar already hosts a naval airbase, INS Baaz, at Campbell Bay, which monitors the “Six Degree Shipping Channel” between the island and Sumatra. The new airport at Galathea Bay will be even closer to the Malacca Strait, through which over 96,000 vessels pass annually, averaging more than 260 ships daily.

Project Details and Costs:
The estimated cost of the airport is ₹8,573 crore, and it is being developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as a greenfield project, meaning it will be built entirely from scratch. While the AAI oversees construction, the facility will have dual-use capability, serving the Indian Navy, Air Force, UAVs (drones), and civilian flights, similar to airports in Chandigarh, Goa, Pune, Leh, and Port Blair.

Part of a Larger Strategic Hub:
The airport forms part of a broader project called the International Container Transshipment Port, envisioned as a logistics hub rivaling Singapore. While the project faced some environmental concerns, Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav stated in August that “exceptional mitigation measures have been incorporated to minimize ecological impact while ensuring strategic utility.”

Strategic Significance:
The Bay of Bengal and adjoining regions of the Indian Ocean are of critical strategic importance to India. China’s People’s Liberation Army and Navy have been expanding their presence in the region, including the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits, and establishing military facilities on Myanmar’s Coco Islands. The development of the Great Nicobar airport strengthens India’s strategic footprint in these key maritime zones.

Conclusion:
By building a second airport on Great Nicobar, India is enhancing its surveillance, defense, and maritime capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, sending a strong message amid escalating regional tensions with China.