thumb|Maitri under construction with lake Indira Priyadarshini in background (1988)|alt=|310x310px

Maitri also known as Friendship Research Centre, is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica as part of the Indian Antarctic Programme. The name was suggested by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Work on the station was first started by the Indian Antarctic expedition which arrived the end of December 1984, with a team led by Dr. B. B. Bhattacharya. Squadron Leader D. P. Joshi, the surgeon of the team, was the first camp commander of the tentage at camp Maitri. The first huts were started by the IV Antarctica Expedition and completed in 1989, shortly before the first station, Dakshin Gangotri, was buried in ice and abandoned in 1990–91. Maitri is situated in the rocky mountainous region called Schirmacher Oasis. It is only away from the Russian Novolazarevskaya Station.

Facilities

thumb|An aerial view of the Indian Station Maitri, Antarctica on 2 February 2005

The station has modern facilities for research in various disciplines, such as biology, earth sciences, glaciology, atmospheric sciences, meteorology, cold region engineering, communication, human physiology, and medicine. It can accommodate 25 people for winter. Fresh water is provided through a freshwater lake named Lake Priyadarshini.

Airfield

A blue ice runway, located away, operated by Antarctic Logistics Centre International (ALCI) serves the station and Novolazarevskaya.

Maitri-II

India is planning to replace Maitri research station by a new Maitri-2 station by 2029. Following government approval, India plans for Maitri-II to be operational by January 2032, with a research grant of Rs.1250 crore to design and prepare a DPR.

See also

  • Indian Antarctic Program
  • Bharati (research station)
  • Dakshin Gangotri First Indian station 1983, converted to support base
  • Defence Research and Development Organisation
  • Defence Institute of High Altitude Research
  • Indian Astronomical Observatory
  • Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
  • National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
  • Siachen Base Camp (India)
  • List of Antarctic research stations
  • List of Antarctic field camps
  • List of highest astronomical observatories

References

  • National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of Government of India
  • Amateur Radio Operator Selected for Antarctica Expedition