The new domestic terminal building will be operational at the Chennai Airport by the middle of April this year, said Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman Mr Vijai Prakash Agrawal after inspecting construction works at the city airport on Tuesday.

Noting that installation of the common user terminal extension system and shifting of people would begin soon, Mr Agrawal said that TNEB was yet to provide electricity for the new terminal and after it was done, the new terminal would be opened within 45 days.

He added that construction at the new international terminal building would be over by the end of March and the building was expected to be operational in May.

The automatic retrieval storage system that is currently under construction at the cargo complex would be opened by June, he said.

According to Mr Agrawal, the current terminal buildings would be temporarily closed after the opening of the two new terminal buildings. “The international terminal building will be revamped and re-opened after six months,” he said.

On commissioning of the extended secondary runway, he said that the AAI would initially open 8,000 feet of the 10,000 feet runway, as there were some obstructions at one end of the runway.

“The height of a few houses has to be reduced and the state government should give compensation to them. Only after that we will be able to fully operationalize the secondary runway,” he added.