By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
India is planning to replace the existing Maitri Research Station with a newly designed Maitri-II Station in Antarctica, Parliament was told on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences has approved ₹29.2 crore for pre-investment activities, including architectural design and preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
The new station will significantly enhance India’s ability to conduct multidisciplinary scientific research in Antarctica.
The new Maitri-II Station is conceived as a state-of-the-art, year-round research hub that will significantly elevate India’s scientific capability in biology, earth sciences, glaciology, atmospheric sciences, climate studies and long-term environmental monitoring.
The upgraded station will feature modern laboratories, advanced ice-core storage and processing systems, a dedicated biological and microbial research suite and expanded atmospheric observation facilities. A stronger and more dependable logistic backbone will ensure uninterrupted scientific operations throughout the year. These enhancements will greatly expand the scope, precision, continuity and international relevance of India’s Antarctic research, enabling the country to contribute high-quality data and cutting-edge findings to global polar science for decades to come.
The projected timeline for Maitri-II to become operational is estimated as seven years with expected completion by 2032.