Govt plans dual-use green field airport at Great Nicobar

New Delhi: The central government has prepared an ambitious plan for the construction of a dual-use green field international airport at Great Nicobar that will play an important role in the country's national security and in promoting tourism.

According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared for the strategic airport, it will be developed as a dual-use military airfield with the control of the airside and Air Traffic Control with the Indian Navy and civil apron control and associated passenger-related facilities with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Great Nicobar is the southernmost and largest of the Nicobar Islands. Andaman and Nicobar Islands' main city, Port Blair, is located at a distance of more than 500 km from the island whereas international destinations like Phuket and part of the Sumatra islands are within a distance of 500 km from the proposed airport. Apart from strategic needs, the airport will ensure ease of connectivity and hence present a great opportunity for tourism-oriented development that would put Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the map of global tourist destinations as well, according to the DPR.

The Indian mainland is at least 1500 km from this island, with cities like Delhi ranging at a distance of approximately 3000 km, while Calcutta and Mumbai are located at a distance of 1,850 and 2,250 km respectively.

Singapore, Vietnam, Bali etc. are within a range of 1000 to 1500 km from the proposed airport. The Great Nicobar island is situated at the foot of the Andaman and Nicobar islands and extends from Ranganatha Bay on the east coast to southwards to Galathea Bay and around the corner of Indira Point to Pemayya Bay.