Airport runway expansion by May-end

Airport runway expansion by May-end

CHENNAI: A final word on the runway expansions at Chenai airport would emerge by the end of May after a meeting scheduled in Delhi this month. This was stated by the Airports Authority of India Chairman, V P Agarwal, who was on an inspection visit to Chennai on Saturday.

The expansion and renovation plans of the main and secondary runways with appended link and taxiways that was to begin in the first week of April had been stalled owing to approval delays on the project by the airport authorities in Delhi after a representation was made by the airline operators on the non-viability of the project in the face of losses that they are already facing.
“There was only a coordination issue on the project with the airlines which will most probably be sorted out by the end of this month and we will have a decision then,” he said. On queries related to the radar failure, Agarwal agreed that a new radar was long overdue.

“Chennai will have two new radars, which have already been tendered for and will now be recalled. One radar will be installed by the end of 2009 and the other one will come in a phased manner,” Agarwal said.

A total modernisation of the ATC tower is also in the offing where more automated processes will be brought in at a cost of Rs 140 crore on lines of what is available in Delhi and Mumbai.

Greenfield airport decision awaits ICAO report:

On being queried on the greenfield airport, Agarwal said that they were awaiting a detailed report, which was likely to be ready in the next two months, and if everything went well, the airport would come up in a joint venture with TIDCO if there was no scope for a parallel runway at the existing airport.

“If a greenfield airport comes, it’ll take care of requirements of passengers for the next 30 years and if everything goes well for that project it can be done within three years in the Sriperumbudur area. In that case, we don’t have to look at the high investments in procuring land for the parallel runway at the existing airport,” he said.

Comments

Now that the Chairman of AAI has agreed in public that the Green field Airport is the right alternative than going for the parallel runway, let's hope the government to will take immediate steps and de-notify the areas already notified for Parallel runway which will enable the residents there to continue with their normal life and re-start the construction activities stalled for 2 years. This decision to do away with the parallel runway saves a lot of public money from being wasted and greenfield airport is the only futuristic decision chennai needs.
By S Brighton 5/10/2009 11:23:00 PM


It makes sense for AAI to go for new greenfield airport with futuristic approach than try to expand the run, giving hardships thru land acquisition. Though Sriperumpudur would also witness similar land acquisition (it isn't really practical, otherwise), impact on land owners and environment will be significantly less. I hope AAI initiate new greenfield airport project ASAP, to realize the airport up and running by 2014.
By ramki 5/10/2009 7:01:00 PM


Absolutely now that AAI realised the realty, and hope they would stall the land acquisition programme on it's surroundings, thus, heaving a sigh of relief to the residents there instead. On the other hand, AAI should start implementing the new greenfield airport at Sriperumpudur at the earliest possible, in order to meet the requirements for the next 30 years or so.
By Jeeva 5/10/2009 1:16:00 PM

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Airport+runway+expansion+by+May-end&artid=yFryHP1U6GY=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=XT7e3Zkr/lw=&SectionName=rSY%7C6QYp3kQ=&SEO=Airports%20Authority%20of%20India%20Chairman,%20V%20P%20Agarwal