GUWAHATI: In a major push for regional infrastructure, the Central Government officially allocated a ₹13,000-crore budgetary package on Monday, June 8, for a new greenfield airport at Chingen on Great Nicobar Island.
The strategic funding will be shared equally, on a 50:50 basis, between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
This massive financial package prioritises building an entirely new asset over previous plans to expand the nearby naval air station, INS Baaz.
Extensive engineering reviews revealed severe technical limitations with upgrading INS Baaz, prompting the government to shift its focus entirely.
The newly approved capital infusion will fund a state-of-the-art international terminal and a robust 10,000-foot runway at Chingen.
Strategically, the dual-use facility sits 40 nautical miles from the Malacca Strait, giving India critical surveillance leverage over vital Indo-Pacific shipping lanes.
With the monetary clearances secured, the government intends to launch the official tendering process immediately, keeping the project on a strict five-year operational timeline.