India is moving ahead with plans to establish a third Indian Navy presence in the Lakshadweep archipelago, with INS Bitra proposed for Bitra Island, the smallest inhabited island in the 36-island chain, India Today reported.

The move follows the establishment of INS Dweeprakshak at Kavaratti and INS Jatayu at Minicoy, further strengthening India's maritime posture in the Arabian Sea.

The Lakshadweep Administration has initiated the process to acquire Bitra Island for strategic and defence purposes. A notification issued by the Revenue Department on 11 July 2025 under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 formally launched a Social Impact Assessment, the first step towards the proposed acquisition.

According to the notification, the objective is the complete transfer of Bitra Island to defence and strategic agencies due to its strategic location and significance for national security.

Bitra occupies only 0.105 square kilometres, making it the smallest inhabited island in Lakshadweep. The 2011 Census recorded a population of 271 residents living in 105 families. Despite its small size, the island occupies a strategically important position in northern Lakshadweep and is viewed as a key location for improving maritime surveillance coverage.

Its location would help bridge a surveillance gap between Kavaratti and Agatti while providing the Navy with a northern operational anchor in the island chain. Military planners believe the position would improve monitoring of vital shipping lanes crossing the Arabian Sea and strengthen India's ability to track maritime activity across a wider area.

The proposal comes as India places increasing emphasis on maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region. With INS Jatayu at Minicoy already overseeing the strategically important Eight Degree and Nine Degree Channels, Bitra would complement existing facilities by extending monitoring coverage further north. These sea routes are among the world's busiest maritime corridors, linking the Malacca Strait with the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Hormuz.

Defence planners view the proposed base as an important asset for tracking commercial shipping, countering piracy, disrupting narcotics trafficking networks and maintaining closer observation of growing Chinese activity in the Arabian Sea.

If approved, INS Bitra would become Lakshadweep's third major defence establishment. Officials argue that the facility would close existing surveillance gaps, improve operational reach and enhance the Navy's ability to respond rapidly across the western Indian Ocean.

The project is also expected to follow the Centre's dual-use infrastructure model. Under this approach, military investments support civilian development through improved connectivity, healthcare, transport and employment opportunities.

Similar plans are already underway through the expansion of Agatti airfield and the development of a new airfield at Minicoy integrated with INS Jatayu.

At the same time, the proposal has generated concern among some residents and community representatives. Bitra's population relies heavily on fishing and coconut cultivation, while the surrounding lagoon supports fishing activities used by people from across the Lakshadweep islands. Local voices have raised concerns regarding displacement and livelihood impacts as the acquisition process progresses.

The planned acquisition reflects a broader effort by India to strengthen its strategic footprint across island territories as maritime competition in the Indian Ocean intensifies.

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's January 2024 visit brought national attention to Lakshadweep, the islands have increasingly emerged not only as a tourism destination but also as a critical component of India's western maritime security architecture.

Agencies