India is mulling to develop a new airfield at the Minicoy Islands in Lakshadweep.
The new airfield coming up at Minicoy Islands would be capable of operating military aircraft, including fighter jets, along with commercial ones, ANI reported.
The development comes at a time when diplomatic row has erupted between India and Maldives over Maldives ministers making derogatory comment on PM Narendra Modi’s recent Lakshadweep post. PM Modi’s gesture was inferred by the island nations ministers as move to present Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist destination to Maldives—popular among many Indians.
The report quoting sources said: "The plan is to have a joint airfield that would be capable of operating fighter jets, military transport planes and commercial aircraft.”
It mentioned that there have been instances in the past when proposals were moved to the government for developing this new airfield in the Minicoy Islands, however the plan of having a joint-use defence airfield has been revived in recent times.
Geo-strategically, the airfield at Minicoy Island would give India a strong edge, it stated.
The base can be used to keep strong vigil on the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region, the report added.
It mentioned the Indian Coast Guard was the first force under the Defence Ministry to suggest the development of an airstrip in the Minicoy Islands.
Stating about the present proposal, the report said, the Indian Air Force would be in the lead to run the operations from Minicoy.
The airport at Minicoy would also give the defence forces the capability to extend their area of surveillance in the Arabian Sea, it said.
The report also said the airport at Minicoy would also provide a boost to tourism in the region, as has been planned by the government.
At present there is only one airstrip in the island territory at the moment, which is in Agatti and it can also limit the types of aircraft.
