CHENNAI: The Rs 1,808 crore expansion project of the Chennai Airport will enable the airport handle increased volume of passengers as Tamil Nadu is turning out to be a favoured investment destination for various industries.
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi formally inaugurated the project, after overcoming public opposition and legal hurdles, under which a new domestic terminal and a 2,500 feet parallel runway among various other works would be taken up. According to M Ramalingam, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), with the parallel runway the airport could handle 45 flights per hour as against the existing 30 flights.
The expansion project, one of the pet projects of Karunanidhi, at one time faced the danger of being grounded following stiff opposition from residents of Pammal, Pozhichalur, Anakaputhur and Cowl Bazaar localities near the airport for the proposal to acquire lands in their areas.
Political parties, including DMK's then allies, the PMK and Left parties, as well as the Opposition AIADMK and BJP, extended their support to the agitating people. The residents contended that about 25,000 people would be displaced by the land acquisition, with 583 hectares of the total 2,000 acres required for the expansion falling under these residential areas. The previous AIADMK government had allotted 2,000 acres of land free for the AAI to carry out the expansion.
Buckling under pressure in view of the opposition, the government later decided to drop land acquisition in the said areas and identified alternative land at Manapakkam, Tharapakkam, Kolapakkam and Gerugambakkam. But this time the residents moved the Madras High Court early this year challenging the move to acquire their lands.
1 comment:
Is it a news to cheer that the secondary runway is repeatedly being referred as parallel runway in the press releases, particularly by the AAI chairman himself?! If the government, and AAI, are planning to drop the parallel runway plan, and acquisition, the first thing they would do is save their loss of face. Calling the secondary runway as parallel runway could be a step in that direction. Let's hope for the best.
Subramaniam
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