Army delays handing over land for expansion

Army delays handing over land for expansion

CHENNAI: The army authorities are delaying the handing over of 20 acres for the expansion of the international departure terminal adjacent to the international departure area of the Chennai airport, according to officials of the Airports Authority of India.

A transmission station of the army is functioning at the place now. Sources in the Airports Authority of India said officials had been in touch with the army for the past 10 years for the transfer of the land.

While taking up the matter with Defence Minister A.K. Antony, the State government explained that the land was crucial for the expansion and for building a flyover, air-conditioning plant and power station.

Following this, the Union Cabinet in July last decided to hand over the land to the AAI on condition that the State government provide an equal value of land to the army; and the AAI bear the entire expense of relocating the army transmitter station, including the tower, to an adjacent land at Pallavaram.

The AAI and the State government agreed to these conditions.
A senior official of the State government said the government had identified 72 acres of its land on East Coast Road near Mahabalipuram. Following the meetings with the Defence Minister, the Ministry issued orders for handing over the land to the AAI, said another AAI official.

several rounds of meeting among the army, the AAI and the State government, the land was yet to the handed over to the AAI.In fact, the AAI had prepared a plan for an alternative site for relocating the transmitter station and submitted it to the army.

While the expansion was in full swing at the domestic terminal, nothing was happening in the international terminal owing to the delay in handing over the land, AAI authorities said.
Officials of the Defence Ministry said the AAI was required to make alternative arrangements for shifting the defence establishment. Then only would the land be handed over to it.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/13/stories/2009011354870500.htm