India’s strategic footprint in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is getting expanded. Runways of two naval air bases are set to be ‘soon extended’ to accommodate heavier military planes. Separately, two new dual use airports have been okayed — one in Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) and second, a green field project on the Great Nicobar island.The extension of runways is being done at INS Kohasa in Diglipur, North Andaman Island, and at INS Baaz near Campbell Bay in Great Nicobar Island. The two bases are, respectively, the northern and southern extremes of archipelago spread across 750 kms along a north-south axis in the Bay of Bengal.Lt Governor of Andaman Nicobar Islands, Admiral DK Joshi (retd) while speaking at think-tank United Service Institution today said the existing runways in INS Baaz and INS Kohasa were being extended.“All of them will become near about 3-km runways in a very short time…land allotments are over. The works are in progress,” the Admiral said adding they will be dual use, military and commercial flying.The Admiral, a former Navy Chief, was delivering the Colonel Pyara Lal memorial lecture at the USI. He gave an over view of the multi-faceted development like airport, ports, oil exploration, telecom connectivity and tourism.On the two new airports, the admiral said the existing Sri Vijaya Puram airport, has got limitations. Foremost, is it being only one-directional — landings and take-offs can only happen from one side.A new site just south of the existing airport has been finally selected by the Airports Authority of India. It will have two 3-km runways and a parallel taxi track; So, in effect, three runways, Admiral Joshi said.The second is greenfield airport at the Great Nicobar Islands. Earlier this month, the Green Tribunal gave its nod and final clearances have been given. “We plan to have two runways and one parallel taxi track. But in phase one it will have just one runway, that would be unidirectional three kilometers length,” he added. The first flight is expected in three years’ time. The Tribune in its edition dated December 13, 2025, was the first to report about this project.Separately, last month the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, had inaugurated the upgraded runway at the Indian Air Force’s Car Nicobar air base in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Facilities have been created to allow basing of the Sukhoi 30MKI jets. These jets can be armed with the BrahMos missile with a 500-km range, expanding the envelope of operations. The resurfacing allows planes with heavy cargo to operate.The expansion project of various airbases on the islands represents a critical component of India’s military modernization and strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in response to China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean.