New airport at Lakshadweep’s Minicoy Island

Minicoy, locally known as Maliku, is the southernmost of the Lakshadweep archipelago

Indian Island Development Agency (IDA) recently announced the development of a new airport at the Minicoy Island in the union territory of Lakshadweep, to boost tourism, promote the tuna fishing industry and improve livelihoods.

The Island Development Agency (IDA), which was set up in June this year for meeting developments in Indian islands, detailed master plans for holistic development of nine islands, including four in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Smith, Ross, Long, Avis) and five in Lakshadweep (Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinnakara, Cheriyam, Suheli).

Following up, the IDA recently set forth the development for an airport at the Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep, to boost tourism, promote the tuna fishing industry and improve the living standards of its citizens.

According to the site development potential report of the island, environmentally sensitive zones have been mapped, and considering the unique maritime and territorial bio-diversity of the island, enhanced connectivity has been recommended as one of the key priorities.

To unlock the tourism potential, the new airport is being developed on a public-private partnership (PPP), and NITI Aayog – the government think tank has asked to drive the formulation of PPP projects and proposed detailed guidelines aiming to boost private sector participation for these projects.

With the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh directing all concerned efforts to accelerate implementation and development of the current primary infrastructure projects in the islands, the new airports are aimed at increasing tourist footfall on these lands and develop community-based tourism in consultation with local stakeholders.