New Delhi: In order to promote the Lakshadweep islands for tourism, the government is now planning to develop a new airfield at the Minicoy Islands in Lakshadweep that would be capable of operating military aircraft, including fighter jets, along with commercial ones.
"The plan is to have a joint airfield that would be capable of operating fighter jets, military transport planes and commercial aircraft," government sources said.
Even though the proposals have been moved to the government for developing this new airfield in the Minicoy Islands in the past too, this plan of having a joint-use defence airfield has been revived in recent times and is being actively progressed, the sources informed.
From the military point of view, the airfield would give India a strong capability as it can be used as a base to keep an eye on the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region.
At present there is only one airstrip in the island territory, which is in Agatti and it can also limit the types of aircraft.
The Lakshadweep territory has been the centre of discussion and attraction since the visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi there last week. (with Agency inputs)
