The government has begun work on a new airport at the southernmost tip of India on Great Nicobar Island, a move expected to significantly strengthen India’s defence preparedness while accelerating tourism-led development in the region, according to official documents accessed by ANI.
The proposed airport will enable operations of larger military aircraft and sharply cut response times for defence forces in the Indian Ocean Region, a critical consideration for national security. The nearest major airport, Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, is located more than 500 kilometres away, limiting rapid deployment and connectivity.
Project documents outline a long-term yet pragmatic vision for airport development, aimed at ensuring balanced, sustainable, flexible and cost-effective growth. The plan is designed to accommodate projected increases in air traffic while optimising land use and minimising environmental disruption. Site planning has carefully accounted for land contours and drainage patterns, with infrastructure positioned to reduce disturbance to natural landforms and balance excavation and filling. Sustainability, structural resilience and construction costs have been central to the design approach.
Beyond defence, the airport is expected to act as a major economic catalyst. Improved air connectivity will support trade and commerce by enabling faster movement of people and goods, while generating substantial employment across construction, services and allied sectors. The project estimates that investments in the airport, a trans-shipment hub, tourism facilities and associated economic activity could create around 105,000 direct jobs by 2050, with a further 157,700 jobs generated through multiplier effects in support and service industries.
The population potential of Great Nicobar Island is projected at about 0.65 million by 2050. Of this, around 0.325 million growth is expected during Phase 1 between 2025 and 2040, with an additional 0.4 million during Phase 2 from 2041 to 2055. Over the longer term, the island’s population is projected to double to roughly 1.3–1.5 million by 2075, underscoring the need for phased and planned infrastructure expansion.
Tourism development forms a key pillar of the overall plan, with proposals for hotels, resorts, dining, shopping and entertainment hubs along the coastline, many with direct beach access. The island’s eco-tourism potential spans both marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including pristine beaches, coral-rich seas and dense tropical forests, positioning Great Nicobar as a global nature tourism destination anchored in environmentally responsible development.
In parallel, the region’s exceptional biodiversity — among the richest in India within a compact geographical area — is expected to support science-led research and conservation-focused economic activity, with the project emphasising ecological preservation alongside growth.
Strategically, the airport’s location near the Six Degree Channel, a vital international shipping lane, offers a major advantage. International destinations such as Singapore, Vietnam and Bali lie within 1,000–1,500 kilometres, while Indian metros like Kolkata and Mumbai are about 1,850 kilometres and 2,250 kilometres away, respectively. Traffic assessments indicate that several global destinations would be closer to the proposed airport than many parts of mainland India, positioning Great Nicobar as an emerging strategic, defence and tourism hub on the global map.
