Great Nicobar International Airport and India’s Ocean Strategy

Under the direction of Narendra Modi, the government has commenced work on The Great Nicobar International Airport. It is one of India’s most valuable infrastructure projects strategically located at the southernmost region of India. The airport serves as a dual facility to support National Security. While providing a new opportunity for connectivity and Economic Development in Asia and The Indian Ocean Region.

Exclusive documents that indicate the airport will also strengthen India’s Defense Response Capabilities. This will reduce the Response Time for Military Operations in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region. Recent news has illustrated that the Government’s Long Term Strategic Investment Priority is in strategically critical geopolitical areas.

Strategic Military and Tactical Position

The proposed airport will be located on Great Nicobar Island. It is an area within the Six Degree Channel, one of the most heavily trafficked Maritime Trade Routes in the World. This geographical position provides a significant Operational Advantage for India. Given that the nearest Major Commercial Airport is over 500 Kilometres away in Port Blair.

Upon becoming operational, the airport will allow for larger Military Aircraft to operate closer to Essential Sea Routes. Thereby increasing India’s ability to monitor and respond throughout the Eastern Indian Ocean.

Based on existing MTC documents, it has been forecasted that military air traffic will be incorporated into the plans for the airport by the early 2030s. This highlights the military aviation use for the airport over the long term.

This airport will have both types of aviation used by both civil aviation and military aviation.

The Indian Navy is responsible for performing the air traffic control and Air Traffic Services for Military and civilian operations. While providing surface areas, facilities, and services that support civil aviation.

Before the new airport commences operation, agreements will need to be made that delineate the parameters. Guidelines for including civilian passengers at Naval Air Stations used jointly. The Guidelines include the establishment and use of terminals used for commercial passenger service.

Hurdles in the Geography and Environment

Great Nicobar Island is sparsely populated and is mainly covered by densely forested area. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains. To satisfy air safety regulations, the proposed plan calls for necessary cutting of the hills (to satisfy OLS requirements). The materials removed during the excavating process will be reused at the new airport project location. Also, among other infrastructure uses on Great Nicobar island.

Flight routes have been planned to fly over ocean areas and not across populated areas. It resulted in fewer low-level flights through populated regions. Thereby reducing safety issues related to low-level flying. Environmental impacts are also being reduced.

Improvement of Accessibility and Economic Activity for Travel

Along with providing security-related benefits, the construction of the airport will help overcome decades of isolation faced by Great Nicobar Island and its surrounding islands. The proximity of Great Nicobar to popular tourist destinations, such as Phuket and Langkawi (within 500 km), represents a distinct advantage compared to being located over 1,500 km from mainland India.

The strategic location of Great Nicobar will allow for developing luxury tourism and access to international travel networks, creating economic opportunities and sustainable jobs for locals.

Economic growth & sustainability

The new airport is a greenfield site; the projected traffic growth is based on the anticipated development of the urban and economic environment instead of historical traffic data. Based on population forecasts, Great Nicobar will have a projected population in 2040 of around 325,000. The new airport is anticipated to have a passenger handling capacity of around 1,350,000 passengers annually.

The new airport will be built over a 50-year period (2025 to 2075) and will be developed in conjunction with the projected use of the airport to increase capacity incrementally as necessary. In addition to being built to GRIHA-5 (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) standards for sustainable development, the airport terminal will also be built to be carbon-neutral. Therefore, renewable energy, advanced drainage systems and innovative engineering are central to the development.

A Strategic Gateway for India’s Southern Frontier

The Great Nicobar International Airport is envisioned not just as an aviation facility, but as a strategic gateway that reinforces India’s maritime security, drives economic opportunity, and connects the country’s southernmost frontier to the rest of India and the world — a key highlight in ongoing recent news updates on India’s infrastructure and defence strategy.