The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) constructed an interim facility adjacent to the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) at Chandipur.

[9] Following the successful demonstration of the Prithvi missile in October 1993, the Indian Army requested the DRDO to conduct a confirmatory test on a land range to validate circular error probability.

The Army was not convinced that the missile met the specified 150 meters accuracy, and wanted it fired on land to clearly view its impact point.

[12] The agency decided to seek an uninhabited island off India's east coast to resolve the issue.

The team hired a boat from Dhamra for ₹250 (equivalent to ₹1,800 or US$21 in 2023), and armed with a directional compass, set off to locate the islands.

In Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India (2002), Kalam wrote, "to their surprise they [Saraswat and Salwan] found a Bangladeshi flag flying atop a tree, as the island may have been frequented by fishermen from the neighbouring country.

[12] The DRDO had received indications that there were several reasons why the Chief Minister's Office would not be willing to allocate the island.

The island is largely empty for most of the year and staffed only by security personnel, but may host thousands of scientists, technicians and other staff during missile tests.

It does have a small helipad, but missile airframes and all supplies, construction materials and heavy equipment arrive by ship.

[13] Abdul Kalam Island is located close to the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, the world's largest rookery of the endangered olive ridley sea turtle.

Abdul Kalam Island's sandy beaches are a favoured nesting location for the turtles.

[10] In May 2013, increasing concern has been drawn to the change of the island's topography, owing to sand erosion.

The DRDO sought the assistance of geological experts from National Institute of Ocean Technology to monitor the situation.