Chennai: The air operations from Thanjavur and Vellore airports are likely to commence soon, with the Tamil Nadu government finalising the process of bidding with the airline operators.
The two airports have been identified under the second phase of the Centre’s regional air connectivity scheme - UDAN. Vellore has a runway which can handle 70-seater planes but it needs upgradation since the airport has been lying unused for a long time. According to sources, AAI has commenced work to prepare the airport for flights.
And Thanjavur airstrip is in use by the Indian Air Force and the ministry of civil aviation has held talks regarding exchange of land required at the airstrip for the commercial operations.
“Thanjavur and Vellore airports have been selected in the second phase. Bidding process with the airline operators is at the final stage and air operations are to be commenced early,” says a policy note on Transport, tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday by the State Transport Minister M. R. Vijajayabhaskar. Efforts are on to encourage promoters to invest in the other eight airports, the note added.
Out of 13 airports in Tamil Nadu, Neyveli and Salem airports have been selected in the first phase and flight services under UDAN were launched from Salem to Chennai on March 25 this year. Regarding Chennai airport expansion plans, the government has handed over 129.82 acres land to the Airports Authority of India and further 101 acres of land are yet to be handed over for the expansion work.
