Great Nicobar Airport Project Near Malacca Shipping Route Moves Ahead After Green Nod | Exclusive

Last Updated:March 11, 2026, 09:16 IST

Forecasts suggest that as development on the island accelerates, population could reach around 3.25 lakh by 2040, generating passenger demand of about 13.5 lakh travellers annually

After years of planning and debate, the proposed Great Nicobar International Airport has moved a step closer to reality. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has now invited tenders for consultancy for the construction of the airport, marking a major milestone for one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The move comes after environmental clearance for the project was upheld recently by the National Green Tribunal, clearing a key hurdle that had been closely watched by environmental groups and strategic planners alike.

The proposed airport will come up on Great Nicobar Island, India’s southernmost island, located barely 180 kilometres from Sumatra in Indonesia. Though remote and sparsely populated today, the island sits close to some of the world’s busiest shipping routes that pass through the Malacca Strait, making it strategically important for India’s presence in the Indian Ocean region.

A tender document with CNN-News18 dated March 7 shows that the airport is being designed with a long-term vision. Traffic forecasts suggest that as development on the island accelerates, the population could reach around 3.25 lakh by 2040, generating passenger demand of about 13.5 lakh travellers annually. In the initial years, most flights are expected to be domestic, with international routes likely to develop gradually as tourism grows.

The airport’s master plan spans a 50-year horizon up to 2075, with development divided into four phases. Each phase will expand capacity as passenger traffic increases. The airfield is also being designed so that it can eventually accommodate larger international aircraft in the future.

Beyond civilian connectivity, the project has a strong strategic dimension. Around 100 acres of land have been earmarked for Indian Navy infrastructure, including aircraft hangars, operational facilities and residential areas for personnel. This would allow India to strengthen its surveillance and operational reach in a region that is becoming increasingly important for global trade and security.

Officials say the airport is a crucial component of the government’s broader plan to develop Great Nicobar as a strategic and economic hub. The project is designed as a dual-use airport, serving both civilian and military purposes. Under the proposed arrangement, the Indian Navy will control airside operations and air traffic control, while the Airports Authority of India will manage the passenger terminal and civilian operations.

For the people living on Great Nicobar and neighbouring islands, the project could dramatically change daily life. Connectivity to the island is currently limited, with long sea journeys or indirect flights through the Andaman Islands often required to reach the mainland. The new airport promises faster travel, better access to services and the possibility of economic growth through tourism and trade.

The proposed site lies between Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar in the southern part of the island, around 30 kilometres from Campbell Bay. Engineers have planned the runway alignment in a north–south direction so that aircraft approach and depart largely over the sea, helping reduce disturbance to inhabited areas.

Great Nicobar remains one of India’s most remote frontiers, known more for its dense forests and biosphere reserve than for major infrastructure. But with tenders now invited and key environmental approvals in place, the island may soon witness the first steps toward becoming a new aviation gateway in the Indian Ocean.

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