India plans missile test ranges in Andhra, Andamans

New Delhi: India`s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will set up missile test ranges in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Andhra Pradesh and the process has been initiated to acquire land, the government said on Wednesday.

Defence Minister AK Antony told the Rajya Sabha that the DRDO had proposed to set up a missile test range each at Rutland Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Nagayalanka in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.

"Both the projects for setting up of the missile test ranges are at the initial planning stages and land acquisition process is on," he said.
"These projects would be sanctioned after the proposals are cleared by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the revenue authorities," he said.

IANS