As India’s research station Maitri in Antarctica is ageing, India is set to establish a new research station Matri-2. The new station, which will be built near the existing Maitri station in East Antarctica, will have a capacity of around 90 scientists.
This endeavour intends to significantly advance India’s research capacities in Antarctica, enabling sophisticated studies in areas such as climate change, glaciology, and biodiversity.
The current Maitri station was built in 1988 and has just a 10-year operational lifespan. Since the last two decades, there have been high demands to replace the ageing research station on the frozen continent.
In 2017, Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, then Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said that the station would be replaced within three to four years. On 21st December 2024, Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju reportedly stated the new station will be operational by 2029.
Maitri-2 is a critical step towards modernising India’s Antarctic research infrastructure. The upgraded facility will improve scientists’ living and working circumstances, enabling year-round research in severe settings. The new station will also strengthen India’s footprint in global polar research and contribute to a better understanding of Antarctica’s impact on the global climate system.