India picks Galathea Bay over INS Baaz for mega airport

India has shelved plans to expand INS Baaz and chosen Galathea Bay on Great Nicobar Island for a ₹13,000 crore dual-use airport. Officials cited terrain, safety, and expansion constraints at the naval air station. The airport forms part of a larger development plan aimed at boosting maritime security, trade connectivity, and India's strategic presence near the Malacca Strait.