News Excerpt: 

The Andaman and Nicobar (A & N) Islands are undergoing a significant upgrade in military infrastructure, including the modernization of airfields and jetties, enhancement of logistics and storage capacities, improvement in troop accommodations, and establishment of a strong surveillance system.

Key points regarding the infrastructure upgrade in the A & N Islands:

• The enhanced infrastructure aims to facilitate the deployment of additional military forces, larger warships, aircraft, missile batteries, and troops.
• The ongoing construction activities come amid growing Chinese attempts to expand its influence in the region, including the construction of a military facility at Myanmar's Coco Islands, which are located 55 km north of the A & N Islands.
• There are plans to significantly enhance the surveillance infrastructure at one of the northern islands and construct a permanent habitat for troops there.
• The length of an airstrip at a vital naval air station is being increased to enable the landing of larger aircraft like P8Is and fighter jets, and its jetty is also being expanded for use by larger ships.
• A road from the north of the islands to Port Blair in the south is being improved to accommodate more traffic.
• There are 836 Islands in A&N,  of which only 38 are inhabited.

Other major infrastructure upgrades:

• The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is the first and only tri-service command in the islands and was established in 2001.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) is enhancing an airbase to accommodate fighter squadrons for extended periods by extending the runway to nearly 3,000 meters and establishing infrastructure for asset maintenance.
• The Centre is also working on constructing a container trans-shipment terminal. 
• This includes developing associated infrastructure to support traffic and operations.
• The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Navy Chief have inaugurated various facilities to enhance the operational capability of the ANC that includes:
• a modern hangar and dispersal system at INS Utkrosh in Port Blair, 
• a Precision Approach Radar (PAR)
• an Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and Surveillance System,
• Naval Communication Network (NCN) Centres
• The Centre has requested the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to increase manpower and enhance technical capacity to analyze satellite imagery. 
• This initiative aims to improve surveillance of 55 inhabited islands in A & N Islands and Lakshadweep. 
• NRSC, based in Hyderabad, is responsible for remote sensing satellite data acquisition, processing, and decision support for disaster management.
• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group (MAMSG)-Policy meeting with officials of coastal security of A&N and Lakshadweep, Navy, and NRSC to discuss the surveillance of uninhabited islands.