New Delhi: A major plan to build military airfields in Lakshadweep island territories to keep an eye on growing Chinese activities in the region and expand armed forces reach was approved by the government on July 18.
According to a leading news agency citing defence sources, the government in a major boost to its defence capabilities cleared the proposals at a high-level meeting held on Thursday. Led by the Department of Military Affairs, the proposal from the three services is to build a new airbase in Minicoy islands and extend the existing air field on Agatti island in the Arabian Sea on western side of India. These airfields can be used both by the military and civil airliners to boost tourism in the island chain.
Under the Defence Ministry, the Indian Coast Guard was the first force  to suggest the development of an airstrip in the Minicoy Islands. The Indian Air Force would be the lead in the project that would see a military conclave coming up there, which would be used by all three defence forces and the Indian Coast Guard. The Minicoy airfield will come up at naval base ‘INS Jatayu’ in the Lakshadweep islands that was commissioned in March.
It is the nearest major military installation to the Maldives. The Minicoy islands are just around 50 miles from the Maldives. The closest land to Minicoy is Thuraakunu Island in Maldives, which is located at a distance of about 100 km to the south, across the Vangaaru Channel.
Giving the defence forces the capability to extend their area of surveillance in the Arabian Sea, the dual-purpose airfields, which would also be used by commercial airlines, would be capable of deploying and operating all types of fighter and transport aircraft, along with long-range drones and would give an edge to the Indian forces in the region. The airport at Minicoy would also provide a boost to tourism in the region, as has been planned by the government.
