CHENNAI: With existing airports in Chennai, Coimbatore and other cities of Tamil Nadu bursting at the seams, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday reviewed the progress of acquisition of land for expansion of the installations with officials from civil aviation ministry and Airports Authority of India. Palaniswami asked officials to ensure that the land acquisition process is completed soon and a clear roadmap for the process is laid. Officials said the additional land requirement for expansion of Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchy, Madurai and Tuticorin airports and the progress of ongoing land acquisition were reviewed.
“Hon’ble Chief Minister emphasized that once the airports are expanded, it will lead to handling of more wide body aircrafts at these airports, which will in turn lead to easier mobility for public, more employment and business promotion in these regions,” a press release from the government of Tamil Nadu said. Tamil Nadu government has been planning to expand the existing airport at Chennai after it shelved the proposed Greenfield airport near Sriperumbudur. Plans to expand the existing airport are also beset with land issues since many residents nearby the airport are unwilling to part with their land.
“Chief Minister also instructed to commence flight service operations at Salem, Hosur, Neyveli and Ramanathapuram as well as look at the possibilities of Vellore airport becoming functional, at the earliest,” the release said.Chennai Airport is being managed by the AAI and its officials were present at the meeting. Civil Aviation secretary R N Choubey, AAI chairman Dr Guruprasath Mohapatra, municipal administration minister S. P. Velumani and chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan were also present at the meeting.
