Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:38am on 09 Jun 2026,Tuesday India
The Centre has approved a new Rs 13,000-crore greenfield civil-military airport in Great Nicobar, replacing the long-planned expansion of the Indian Navy's INS Baaz air station. The airport will be built at Chingen near Galathea Bay and is expected to serve both civilian and defence operations. Officials said extending the existing INS Baaz runway was not feasible because of terrain, navigation and infrastructure challenges. The new facility, expected to be completed within five years, will remain under naval control while supporting civilian flights. The airport is part of the Rs 81,000-crore Great Nicobar Island Development Project, which also includes a transshipment port, power infrastructure and township development. The government says the project will strengthen India's strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific and improve connectivity, while critics have raised concerns over its environmental and tribal impact. (PC: India Today)
