2 years after PM’s Lakshadweep visit, tourism grows, Navy boosts presence

Two years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s snorkelling photos from Lakshadweep ignited a nationwide conversation on tourism, the coral islands are undergoing a new phase of change—this time through concrete developments on the ground. Tourism facilities are being scaled up, connectivity initiatives are advancing, and the Indian Navy is widening its footprint across the strategically located archipelago.

From Agatti and Kavaratti to Minicoy and Bitra, India Today’s ground reporting traced the shifts unfolding across the islands, where tourism ambitions and national security considerations are increasingly converging.

Lakshadweep consists of 36 coral islands scattered across the Arabian Sea, roughly 220 to 440 km off the Kochi coast. Only 10 of these islands are inhabited: Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra, Andrott, Kalpeni and Minicoy.

For years, access to the islands stayed limited, with Agatti’s small airstrip and sea routes serving as the primary links to the mainland. That picture is now evolving, as new infrastructure projects move forward to enhance connectivity, enable tourism growth and reinforce the islands’ strategic significance.

Tourism push meets infrastructure expansion

PM Modi’s January 2024 visit placed Lakshadweep at the heart of an intense tourism debate, after images from the trip went viral and fuelled calls to explore the Indian archipelago.

Since then, the renewed tourism focus has been accompanied by proposals for new resorts, homestays and improved access, including heli-connectivity.

The administration’s tourism drive is also progressing alongside major infrastructure upgrades. The Centre has cleared the expansion of the Agatti airfield and the construction of a new airfield at Minicoy. Designed for both civilian and military use, the projects are intended to strengthen connectivity and operational flexibility, while also supporting tourism and boosting the local economy.

Navy expands footprint in Lakshadweep

The changes extend beyond tourism.

The Navy’s presence in Lakshadweep has grown notably with the commissioning of INS Jatayu at Minicoy on March 6, 2024—just two months after Modi’s visit.

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar commissioned the unit, upgrading the existing Naval Detachment Minicoy into an independent naval base. The Navy said the step would expand its operational reach and surveillance capabilities in the region, while aiding anti-piracy and anti-narcotics missions in the western Arabian Sea.

Minicoy is Lakshadweep’s southernmost island and lies close to key sea routes in the Indian Ocean. The Navy has described its location as strategically significant, positioned along crucial sea lines of communication.

Before INS Jatayu, the Navy’s established base in Lakshadweep was INS Dweeprakshak at Kavaratti. With Minicoy now operational, the force has secured another permanent base in the archipelago.

Why Lakshadweep matters strategically

The islands sit along maritime corridors linking the Middle East and Southeast Asia, giving them relevance far beyond tourism.

Officials cite maritime security challenges, including piracy in waters west of India and the rising strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region.

The Navy’s expanded footprint is meant to sharpen surveillance and improve response times across the region. The government has also tied airfield development in Lakshadweep to both defence needs and civilian connectivity.

In March 2024, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya were deployed off Lakshadweep during the Navy’s Commanders Conference, highlighting the operational weight being placed on the island territory.

Bitra could get third naval footprint

Further north, Bitra—the smallest inhabited island in Lakshadweep—could become another node in India’s widening security presence.

Home to around 200 people, Bitra is being assessed for a potential forward operating base. Sources said a Social Impact Assessment is underway as part of the process to acquire land for the proposed facility.

The plan is intended to close surveillance gaps in northern Lakshadweep and extend the Navy’s operational reach.

However, the prospect has also triggered concern among residents.

Locals point to the possibility of new jobs and better medical facilities if a full naval base is established, while also worrying about potential displacement in an ecologically sensitive atoll.

Dual-use infrastructure takes shape

Developments in Lakshadweep increasingly reflect a dual-use model, with projects designed to serve both civilian requirements and defence needs.

The Agatti airfield expansion and the proposed Minicoy airfield form part of that approach. The government has said these facilities will support military operations as well as civil aviation, improving mainland connectivity while meeting the armed forces’ logistical and operational demands.

The Minicoy plan also aligns with broader infrastructure expansion across the islands, where improved connectivity is expected to boost tourism and economic activity.

For the Navy, the same connectivity strengthens logistics and enhances access to strategically significant waters.

Two years on, a different Lakshadweep

On the ground today, Lakshadweep looks increasingly different from the islands that captured national attention after Modi’s viral images in January 2024.

Tourism remains central to the transformation, but it is unfolding alongside a much larger push on infrastructure and security.

From Agatti’s expanding airfield to the naval base at Minicoy and the proposed footprint at Bitra, the islands are being more tightly integrated with mainland infrastructure and India’s maritime security architecture.

The result is a Lakshadweep where the tourist destination and the strategic outpost are steadily merging into a single narrative.