NOC issued to construct bridge across Adyar river
T. Ramakrishnan and P. Oppili
CHENNAI: The State government has issued a “no-objection certificate” for constructing a bridge across the Adyar river as part of the Chennai airport’s secondary runway extension project.
An order, issued by the Public Works Department last week, said that the Airports Authority of India should reimburse Rs.3.522 crore which was incurred by the PWD towards the construction of a check-dam at Manapakkam across the river. To enable the formation of the bridge, it had been decided to convert the check-dam into a bed-dam with a height of 0.30 metres. This was to support groundwater sustainability in the area.
The need for the government’s NOC arose because the recently constructed Manapakkam check-dam had to be disturbed if the bridge had to come up. As the check-dam would totally come under the operation area of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) after the bridge construction, it would be difficult for the PWD to operate the sluice valves of the check-dam and clear silt periodically. In May, the Authority’s General Manager informed the government that the AAI’s Board agreed to remit the cost of construction of the check-dam.
The government order of July 21, 2009 laid down several conditions to be fulfilled by the AAI.
The Authority should deploy flood safety mechanism on either side of the proposed bridge to ensure free flow of flood water. Soon after the construction of the bridge for the secondary runway and parallel runway across the river, the Authority should take care of the periodical maintenance including the desilting work within in its boundary. Otherwise it should remit the cost to the PWD for undertaking the annual maintenance works.
The Authority should provide adequate flood protection walls on either side of the river at places where the river was proposed to be covered for the project. The flood protection wall on the river’s left bank should be constructed along the river meandering portion for a minimum clear waterway of 130 metres. The Authority should also construct retaining walls on either side of the river front, both upstream and downstream, to avoid inundation.
The PWD authorities would have the right to enter into airport area to inspect the Adyar river at any time and the works suggested by PWD should be carried out by the Authority, the order said.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/28/stories/2009072857700200.htm
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Times of India 25_07_2009
Parallel runway project put on hold
Greenfield Airport More Suitable But We Haven’t Shelved Project: AAI
V Ayyappan TNN
Chennai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to put on hold the construction of the parallel runway project at Anna International Airport in Chennai as the state government has once again expressed keenness in establishing another airport at Sriperumbudur.
“We are putting the parallel runway project on hold because the (proposal for a) second airport at Sriperumbudur looks more apt and the state government has also agreed to give land for it. But we are not shelving the project,” AAI chairman V P Agrawal said after a meeting with Tamil Nadu chief secretary K S Sripathy here on Friday.
The construction of a second airport at Sriperumbudur would negate the requirement for a second runway at the Chennai airport, which currently faces an instructural crunch given the increase in frequency of flights.
A final decision on whether to build a parallel runway for the existing airport would be taken only after “we get to know the final report of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on the feasibility of the second airport,” Agrawal added. ICAO has not yet started a survey of the location at Sriperumbudur because the AAI has not paid Rs 5 crore for the study.
The ICAO is the international body tasked with the role of studying flight paths in order to verify the feasibility of the location. The AAI chief said a clear picture would emerge after some months based on the ICAO’s study. “We were looking for state government support. Now, they have told us to fund the study.
So, an agreement for the eight-month study will be signed very soon. We will get a preliminary report four months after the study is commissioned. Therefore, the construction of the parallel runway will depend on the ICAO study and also on the final decision of the state government to acquire land,” he added.
According to Agrawal, steps were being taken to improve facilities at Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi and Tuticorin airports and also improve air traffic management facilities at Chennai airport. “Air Traffic Control automation will be done in seven to eight months so that it will improve safety and ease work for the traffic controllers. Raytheon USA has emerged the lowest bidder in the tender process for the project.
We will be having a modern Auto Track III system which is there only in Delhi. The Chennai airport will also get two new radars and six bidders have qualified in the tender process. Price bid for that will be opened in 15 days. Once an agency is finalised the radars are expected in eight months,” he said.
On the national level, the AAI has signed an agreement with Federal Aviation Administration to prepare tender documents to facilitate better air traffic flow management so that Indian air space is better utilised. “Currently, we share the air space with defence who hold control over 35 % of Indian air space,” he added.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/Skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true
Greenfield Airport More Suitable But We Haven’t Shelved Project: AAI
V Ayyappan TNN
Chennai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to put on hold the construction of the parallel runway project at Anna International Airport in Chennai as the state government has once again expressed keenness in establishing another airport at Sriperumbudur.
“We are putting the parallel runway project on hold because the (proposal for a) second airport at Sriperumbudur looks more apt and the state government has also agreed to give land for it. But we are not shelving the project,” AAI chairman V P Agrawal said after a meeting with Tamil Nadu chief secretary K S Sripathy here on Friday.
The construction of a second airport at Sriperumbudur would negate the requirement for a second runway at the Chennai airport, which currently faces an instructural crunch given the increase in frequency of flights.
A final decision on whether to build a parallel runway for the existing airport would be taken only after “we get to know the final report of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on the feasibility of the second airport,” Agrawal added. ICAO has not yet started a survey of the location at Sriperumbudur because the AAI has not paid Rs 5 crore for the study.
The ICAO is the international body tasked with the role of studying flight paths in order to verify the feasibility of the location. The AAI chief said a clear picture would emerge after some months based on the ICAO’s study. “We were looking for state government support. Now, they have told us to fund the study.
So, an agreement for the eight-month study will be signed very soon. We will get a preliminary report four months after the study is commissioned. Therefore, the construction of the parallel runway will depend on the ICAO study and also on the final decision of the state government to acquire land,” he added.
According to Agrawal, steps were being taken to improve facilities at Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi and Tuticorin airports and also improve air traffic management facilities at Chennai airport. “Air Traffic Control automation will be done in seven to eight months so that it will improve safety and ease work for the traffic controllers. Raytheon USA has emerged the lowest bidder in the tender process for the project.
We will be having a modern Auto Track III system which is there only in Delhi. The Chennai airport will also get two new radars and six bidders have qualified in the tender process. Price bid for that will be opened in 15 days. Once an agency is finalised the radars are expected in eight months,” he said.
On the national level, the AAI has signed an agreement with Federal Aviation Administration to prepare tender documents to facilitate better air traffic flow management so that Indian air space is better utilised. “Currently, we share the air space with defence who hold control over 35 % of Indian air space,” he added.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/Skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true
Express Buzz_25_07_2009
Parallel runway project put on hold:
CHENNAI: “Plans for a new parallel runway at the Chennai Airport have been put on hold as the Tamil Nadu government is keen on the new airport in Sriperumbudur,” Airports Authority of India chairman VP Agrawal said on Friday.
He said the government was looking at better opportunities for the new airport. “We have conducted a small feasibility study from our side mainly to understand if making the runway there is feasible as that will be the most basic function. While our studies have shown positive results, yet another has to be commissioned by the International Civil Aviation Organization,” he added.
AAI chairman had earlier said that the feasibility study had already been given to ICAO which was due to give its reply by July. Clarifying that ICAO had not started the study yet, Agrawal said that AAI would sign an agreement with ICAO for taking up the study, sometime next week.
ATC AUTOMATION: Agrawal also highlighted plans for Air Traffic Control automation.
Work would be taken up with immediate affect at the cost of Rs.40 crores. New radars would be acquired within eight months.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Parallel+runway+proposal+on+hold&artid=LGyoFNlJTNo=&SectionID=vBlkz7JCFvA=&MainSectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&SectionName=EL7znOtxBM3qzgMyXZKtxw==&SEO=VP%20Agrawal,%20ICAO,%20AAI
CHENNAI: “Plans for a new parallel runway at the Chennai Airport have been put on hold as the Tamil Nadu government is keen on the new airport in Sriperumbudur,” Airports Authority of India chairman VP Agrawal said on Friday.
He said the government was looking at better opportunities for the new airport. “We have conducted a small feasibility study from our side mainly to understand if making the runway there is feasible as that will be the most basic function. While our studies have shown positive results, yet another has to be commissioned by the International Civil Aviation Organization,” he added.
AAI chairman had earlier said that the feasibility study had already been given to ICAO which was due to give its reply by July. Clarifying that ICAO had not started the study yet, Agrawal said that AAI would sign an agreement with ICAO for taking up the study, sometime next week.
ATC AUTOMATION: Agrawal also highlighted plans for Air Traffic Control automation.
Work would be taken up with immediate affect at the cost of Rs.40 crores. New radars would be acquired within eight months.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Parallel+runway+proposal+on+hold&artid=LGyoFNlJTNo=&SectionID=vBlkz7JCFvA=&MainSectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&SectionName=EL7znOtxBM3qzgMyXZKtxw==&SEO=VP%20Agrawal,%20ICAO,%20AAI
Residents seethe as AAI delays feasibility study for new airport
Residents seethe as AAI delays feasibility study for new airport
V Ayyappan TNN Chennai: Uncertainty continues for residents whose property is stuck in the airport expansion tangle as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is hesitant about dropping the proposed parallel runway project for the existing airport. The AAI has also delayed a planned International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) study on the feasibility of a second airport at Sriperumbudur by over eight months.
For over 2,000 families in Manapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Kolapakkam, Tarapakkam and Kovur, a nod for the greenfield airport (now called a second airport because the state government wants two functioning airports) means their land — otherwise marked for acquisition for expansion of the existing airport — would be saved. But residents are furious that the AAI hasn’t started the study yet.
“All along we assumed the ICAO study was on and the report on the new airport will come at any time. Now, AAI’s declaration that the study is yet to start is a shock,” said G Mohan Kumar, who has bought a house in EVP Township in Tarapakkam.
“Ninety per cent of my house was completed when the state government marked the land for acquisition two years ago. But the bank is putting pressure on us to pay up the instalments,” said Somasekharan, another resident.
“All of us recently sent over 800 telegrams to the state government and asked for an appointment to meet the chief minister. But we have got no response,” he added.
The residents, who were on the verge of launching a massive protest to get their land denotified, had remained quiet because the AAI had promised that they would ask ICAO to do a feasibility study for Sriperumbudur airport eight months ago.
But the study did not start because “ICAO is asking huge money to start the survey. But we will be signing an agreement with them very soon,” said AAI chairman V P Agrawal. If the organisation had started its study as planned, the final report would have been ready last month.
“Though AAI has studied the location and found that an airport can be constructed in Sriperumbudur, ICAO should study the location because it is less than 150 km from the existing Chennai airport,” said a senior AAI official.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2009/07/27&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00503&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T
Plea to denotify airport project
Chennai, July 25: As the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI’s) decision to shelve the parallel runway project gives a little relief for residents, thousands of families affected by the project from the Manapakkam, Kollapa-kkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharapakkam (EVP Town) areas are still waiting for de-notification of the project.
As part of the major Chennai airport expansion project, the state government has notified 939 acres in the area for AAI to construct a parallel runway. But the project got delayed for more than a year due to various reasons.
“Though residents are happy with the AAI decision to hold up the project, still we are demanding the de-notification of the parallel runway project and the government should go for a second airport project at Sriperumbudur,” said Brindha Brighton, secretary of the United People’s Forum for Survival, a forum of 5,000 people going to be affected by the Chennai airport expansion project.
“Earlier, the state chief secretary had assured the completion of feasibility study of the second airport coordinated by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) by July 2009. But AAI is yet to start its preliminary work. We demand the commissioning and completion of the study as early as possible and also thousands of families in our area expect a favourable decision from state government by de-notifying the project,” she added.
The project would take away 947 dwelling houses, 250 semi-constructed houses, 2,000 approved plots, an international school with 2,000 students, more than 500 acres of agricultural land and several small-scale industries. Besides, environmentalists point to major threats to the ecology and chances of flooding. Environmentalist and researcher Nityanand Jayaraman said AAI’s decision would give temporary relief to the residents, and added that the project that affects the lives of thousands of people should be de-notified.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/plea-denotify-airport-project-138
As part of the major Chennai airport expansion project, the state government has notified 939 acres in the area for AAI to construct a parallel runway. But the project got delayed for more than a year due to various reasons.
“Though residents are happy with the AAI decision to hold up the project, still we are demanding the de-notification of the parallel runway project and the government should go for a second airport project at Sriperumbudur,” said Brindha Brighton, secretary of the United People’s Forum for Survival, a forum of 5,000 people going to be affected by the Chennai airport expansion project.
“Earlier, the state chief secretary had assured the completion of feasibility study of the second airport coordinated by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) by July 2009. But AAI is yet to start its preliminary work. We demand the commissioning and completion of the study as early as possible and also thousands of families in our area expect a favourable decision from state government by de-notifying the project,” she added.
The project would take away 947 dwelling houses, 250 semi-constructed houses, 2,000 approved plots, an international school with 2,000 students, more than 500 acres of agricultural land and several small-scale industries. Besides, environmentalists point to major threats to the ecology and chances of flooding. Environmentalist and researcher Nityanand Jayaraman said AAI’s decision would give temporary relief to the residents, and added that the project that affects the lives of thousands of people should be de-notified.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/plea-denotify-airport-project-138
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Airport expansion work on defence land stopped
Airport expansion work on defence land stopped
P. Oppili
CHENNAI: Expansion work at the Chennai airport on land in the possession of the Defence Ministry was stopped last week by the Defence authorities.
A board put up at the site said: “This is Defence Land. All construction activity be halted henceforth till further notice.”
Airports Authority of India officials said that following a meeting with the Chief Secretary, the AAI had entered the 2.99 acres of defence land, part of a 19.24-acre parcel of defence property, in February this year for construction activities. The defence authorities had agreed to the AAI proposal to construct a new building for the defence instead of the existing structure at Pallavaram. Already, the AAI had completed the construction of the new technical office complex and erected signal transmitters on the land by May. The defence authorities had visited the new building, expressed their satisfaction and commended the AAI for completing the work in record time.
Following this, the AAI had approached the defence authorities to take over the building with proper inventory.
The defence authorities had informally allowed the AAI to start the earthwork and clear the bushes on the site, measuring 16.25 acres. However, on July 17 a section of defence authorities entered the project site (measuring 16.25 acres area) with armed personnel and stopped construction at the site. The AAI authorities have sent a letter to the State government stating that the stoppage of work “would adversely affect” the ongoing mega expansion project. They also requested the government to invite the defence authorities to attend a review meeting to be chaired by the Chief Secretary in which the AAI Chairman is expected to participate, an officer added.
The AAI officer said that at the meeting in February the local defence authorities had agreed to permit the AAI to start civil works relating to the international terminal expansion, and this fact had been recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/23/stories/2009072355320600.htm
P. Oppili
CHENNAI: Expansion work at the Chennai airport on land in the possession of the Defence Ministry was stopped last week by the Defence authorities.
A board put up at the site said: “This is Defence Land. All construction activity be halted henceforth till further notice.”
Airports Authority of India officials said that following a meeting with the Chief Secretary, the AAI had entered the 2.99 acres of defence land, part of a 19.24-acre parcel of defence property, in February this year for construction activities. The defence authorities had agreed to the AAI proposal to construct a new building for the defence instead of the existing structure at Pallavaram. Already, the AAI had completed the construction of the new technical office complex and erected signal transmitters on the land by May. The defence authorities had visited the new building, expressed their satisfaction and commended the AAI for completing the work in record time.
Following this, the AAI had approached the defence authorities to take over the building with proper inventory.
The defence authorities had informally allowed the AAI to start the earthwork and clear the bushes on the site, measuring 16.25 acres. However, on July 17 a section of defence authorities entered the project site (measuring 16.25 acres area) with armed personnel and stopped construction at the site. The AAI authorities have sent a letter to the State government stating that the stoppage of work “would adversely affect” the ongoing mega expansion project. They also requested the government to invite the defence authorities to attend a review meeting to be chaired by the Chief Secretary in which the AAI Chairman is expected to participate, an officer added.
The AAI officer said that at the meeting in February the local defence authorities had agreed to permit the AAI to start civil works relating to the international terminal expansion, and this fact had been recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/23/stories/2009072355320600.htm
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Fear of losing land to airport expansion makes residents pray for greenfield one
Fear of losing land to airport expansion makes residents pray for greenfield one
V Ayyappan TNN Chennai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is not the only one on tenterhooks over the delay by the International Civil Aviation Organisation in submitting a feasibility report for the proposed greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur.
About 2,000 families too are keeping their fingers crossed. The ICAO was to submit the techno-feasibility report last month. For families in Manapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Kolapakkam and Kovur a nod for the greenfield airport means that their lands — otherwise marked for acquisition for expansion of the existing airport — would be saved.
The state government had earlier hinted that it would like to go ahead with the greenfield airport on 4,820.66 acres, because it found it difficult to acquire land northwest of the Adyar for building the parallel runway. While it would be tough to acquire even 300 acres, getting the earmarked 993 acres would cost more than Rs 2,000 crore.
So, the government wanted to acquire land for the new airport rather than expanding the existing one. A senior AAI official said “The ICAO report is yet to come.”
Though earlier studies showed that Sriperumbudur was suitable for construction of an airport, the government was keen on having the ICAO carry out a techno-economic feasibility study and also determine whether the airport could be operated simultaneously with the existing one.
The state government has decided to wait for the ICAO report before taking further steps to acquire the 993 acres to build the proposed parallel runway for the existing airport.
Airport director K Natarajan said, “Nothing has been decided about the greenfield airport. But the Indian Oil Corporation has anyway laid the jet fuel pipeline so that fuel can be supplied to the new airport when it is constructed.”
Meanwhile, residents have started demanding denotification of their lands. “Recent developments show that the government is keen to build a new airport. So it should not hold on to our land,” said Karthik, who had purchased land in the neighbourhood just before the government spelt out its acquisition plans.
“We have decided to send telegrams to the chief minister,” he said.
A senior Kancheepuram district administration official said they had not received intimation from the government to denotify the land marked for acquisition.
ayyappan.v@timesgroup.com
DECIDING FACTOR: The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to submit its feasibility report for the greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?showST=true&login=default&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&GZ=T&Daily=TOICH&AW=1247455487781
V Ayyappan TNN Chennai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is not the only one on tenterhooks over the delay by the International Civil Aviation Organisation in submitting a feasibility report for the proposed greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur.
About 2,000 families too are keeping their fingers crossed. The ICAO was to submit the techno-feasibility report last month. For families in Manapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Kolapakkam and Kovur a nod for the greenfield airport means that their lands — otherwise marked for acquisition for expansion of the existing airport — would be saved.
The state government had earlier hinted that it would like to go ahead with the greenfield airport on 4,820.66 acres, because it found it difficult to acquire land northwest of the Adyar for building the parallel runway. While it would be tough to acquire even 300 acres, getting the earmarked 993 acres would cost more than Rs 2,000 crore.
So, the government wanted to acquire land for the new airport rather than expanding the existing one. A senior AAI official said “The ICAO report is yet to come.”
Though earlier studies showed that Sriperumbudur was suitable for construction of an airport, the government was keen on having the ICAO carry out a techno-economic feasibility study and also determine whether the airport could be operated simultaneously with the existing one.
The state government has decided to wait for the ICAO report before taking further steps to acquire the 993 acres to build the proposed parallel runway for the existing airport.
Airport director K Natarajan said, “Nothing has been decided about the greenfield airport. But the Indian Oil Corporation has anyway laid the jet fuel pipeline so that fuel can be supplied to the new airport when it is constructed.”
Meanwhile, residents have started demanding denotification of their lands. “Recent developments show that the government is keen to build a new airport. So it should not hold on to our land,” said Karthik, who had purchased land in the neighbourhood just before the government spelt out its acquisition plans.
“We have decided to send telegrams to the chief minister,” he said.
A senior Kancheepuram district administration official said they had not received intimation from the government to denotify the land marked for acquisition.
ayyappan.v@timesgroup.com
DECIDING FACTOR: The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to submit its feasibility report for the greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?showST=true&login=default&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&GZ=T&Daily=TOICH&AW=1247455487781
Friday, July 10, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Telegram to Dy.CM on 09-07-2009
All people of Manpakkam, Kollpakkam, Tharapakkam and Gerugambakkam are planning to send Mass Telegram to Dy.CM Mr. Stalin on 09-July-2009 demanding to denotify G.0 Ms.108 dated 09-july-2007.
Telegram Message:
"Sir, we had been facing land acquisition issue for the past 3 years. Thanks for dropping parallel runway in Chennai airport, please de-notify G.O Ms.108, Dated 09-10-2007(Transport Dept), Hope to hear good news from our Dy.CM"
Thiru M.K. Stalin,
Deputy Chief Minister ,
Deputy Chief Minister's Office,
Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.
Telegram Message:
"Sir, we had been facing land acquisition issue for the past 3 years. Thanks for dropping parallel runway in Chennai airport, please de-notify G.O Ms.108, Dated 09-10-2007(Transport Dept), Hope to hear good news from our Dy.CM"
Thiru M.K. Stalin,
Deputy Chief Minister ,
Deputy Chief Minister's Office,
Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
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