Lakshadweep plans new airport and more hotels

11 Jan 2024 CW Team

Additionally, there is a long-standing plan, spanning two decades, to extend the 1.2-kilometer airstrip in Agatti. If realized, this extension would allow A320s to operate on Agatti, replacing the smaller turboprop planes currently in use. Several major Indian hotel chains express their interest in expanding into Lakshadweep, with Taj already declaring its intention to establish new hotels on Suheli and Kadmat islands by the year 2026. The local administration is also actively promoting cruise tourism to the archipelago in the Arabian Sea.

Union minister G Kishan Reddy urges Indians to become ambassadors for Lakshadweep amid tensions with the Maldives, emphasising the enormous potential the region holds.

Despite these positive developments, there remain challenges in terms of air travel to Lakshadweep. Tickets for flights to the region are sold out until March, underscoring the existing poor connectivity. The Lakshadweep administration claims to have implemented measures to simplify the trip to the archipelago. The mandatory e-permit process has been moved entirely online, and restrictions on tourists from certain areas have been lifted. Previously, travellers, including Indian citizens, were required to pay a fee of Rs 200 at a bank and submit the deposit challan to apply for an entry permit. The new online process ensures that permits can now be issued within a day or two.

The pressing need for improved air connectivity is evident from the fact that Alliance Air, the sole Indian airline operating to Lakshadweep, has completely sold out its Kochi-Agatti-Kochi flights the sole aerial route to the archipelago until March.

In the forthcoming years, there is a possibility of enhanced aerial connectivity between Lakshadweep and mainland India, as well as the rest of the world. This may be facilitated by the proposed construction of a dual-use airfield in Minicoy, designed to cater to both civilian and military needs. The airfield is expected to accommodate planes of the size of Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, as well as fighter jets. Additionally, there is a long-standing plan, spanning two decades, to extend the 1.2-kilometer airstrip in Agatti. If realized, this extension would allow A320s to operate on Agatti, replacing the smaller turboprop planes currently in use. Several major Indian hotel chains express their interest in expanding into Lakshadweep, with Taj already declaring its intention to establish new hotels on Suheli and Kadmat islands by the year 2026. The local administration is also actively promoting cruise tourism to the archipelago in the Arabian Sea. Union minister G Kishan Reddy urges Indians to become ambassadors for Lakshadweep amid tensions with the Maldives, emphasising the enormous potential the region holds. Despite these positive developments, there remain challenges in terms of air travel to Lakshadweep. Tickets for flights to the region are sold out until March, underscoring the existing poor connectivity. The Lakshadweep administration claims to have implemented measures to simplify the trip to the archipelago. The mandatory e-permit process has been moved entirely online, and restrictions on tourists from certain areas have been lifted. Previously, travellers, including Indian citizens, were required to pay a fee of Rs 200 at a bank and submit the deposit challan to apply for an entry permit. The new online process ensures that permits can now be issued within a day or two. The pressing need for improved air connectivity is evident from the fact that Alliance Air, the sole Indian airline operating to Lakshadweep, has completely sold out its Kochi-Agatti-Kochi flights the sole aerial route to the archipelago until March.

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