KUTCHA STRIP TO PUCCA RUNWAY

The first ever  landing in these Islands was by a sea plane of the British in 1930. In 1937, the British built a Kutcha strip. Two fighter planes were  brought and permanently based. Consequent to the outbreak of the second world war, the Japanese overcame the British and occupied Port Blair. In Mar 1943, the Japanese using sweat and toil of the of the Indians constructed the runway transforming the Kutcha strip into a Pucca runway with even lighting facilities. On 29 Dec 1934, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose came by air to Port Blair. On 12 Oct 1945, the Japanese surrendered and left the Islands. Since then the airfield which had suffered some damage was declared unserviceable and closed. It remained  closed till 1958.Then it was handed over to DGCA (Director General Civil Aviation) for establishing air link to mainland. On 14 Nov 1960, the first aircraft landed at Port Blair. During the visit of Prime Minister in March 1981, a Burmese boat landed at Narcondum Islands. Consequently, the need for maritime reconnaissance of the islands arose, to guard the interest and the security of the islands. Therefore, in Mar 1984, the government sanctioned the transfer of Port Blair airport from DGCA to the Navy. It is with Navy till date, though it is also being used by civil aviation for air link to the mainland ,i.e Chennai and Kolkata.