CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the State Government to produce the records pertaining to its Government Order (GO) to acquire lands for expansion of Chennai airport, setting up of Greenfield airport and to freeze the building activities in the areas concerned.
The records should be produced in court on September 27. Justice A Kulasekaran gave the directive on a writ petition filed by EVP Housing Chennai Private Limited, challenging the State Government order dated July 9, 2007, for acquisition of 1,069.99 acres of lands in villages of Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharapakkam in Sriperumbudur taluk and 4,820.66 acres of lands in Tiruvallur and Sriperumbudur taluks for the formation of Greenfield airport.
The Government in its impugned order also directed the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to take immediate action to freeze all the building activities in the ‘approach area’ and issue suitable notification after getting necessary proposals with full details from the Airports Authority of India.
According to the petitioner-company, it had developed layouts in Kolapakkam, Tharapakkam and Gerugambakkam areas after obtaining the layout approval from the CMDA in February 2005, while some people purchased the plots and started constructing houses through the petitioner.
Stating that it would not have developed the layout if the CMDA had not granted the approval, the petitioner said the Government’s proceedings to acquire the lands and freeze the building activities had resulted in great hardships to the petitioner-company and all the purchasers of lands.
Contending the Government’s order was arbitrary and liable to be set aside, the petitioner-company prayed the court to quash the same.
Link:http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE920070918231409&Page=9&Headline=Airport+expansion+in+legal+wrangle&Title=Chennai&Topic=0&
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Plea in court to stop land acquisition for city airport
Chennai, Sept. 18: A petition has been filed in the Madras high court challenging the government order on the proposed expansion of the Chennai airport and also the establishment of a Greenfield airport on the fringes of the city, by acquiring land in Kancheepuram district. Mr E.V. Perumalsamy Reddy, director of EVP Housing, Chennai, has in his petition urged the court to quash the government order dated July 9, 2007 claiming that the acquisition of land in Kancheepuram would not only cause huge losses to his firm which had bought land in the area but also to several middle class families which had also purchased plots at Tharapakkam, Kolapakkam and Gerugambakkam in suburban Chennai.
He submitted that the firm had bought the land at an enormous cost for developing layouts and providing housing to people. Being affordable, the plots came as a boon to the middle-income group, which could not afford to buy houses within the city. As the land was in disuse and was unfit for constructing houses, the firm had to develop it before handing it over to the buyers.
The entire area was prone to floods when the Adyar river was in spate. And so the firm had spent huge sums of money on developing the land and making it fit for building houses. He said the firm had obtained permission for developing the layout which it had called EVP Town and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority had approved the project.
He was shocked when the government passed the order which said the existing airport at Meenambakkam would be expanded by acquiring land in these parts, and he had sought clarification from the CMDA as to whether his land was included.
The CMDA had in its letter replied that his property did not form part of the proposed acquisition. So, the firm had proceeded with its developmental activities. But the government later cancelled the G.O and issued a fresh order in which the CMDA was directed to acquire land in the area where his project was taking shape.
Several landowners who had obtained loans from banks and purchased the plots in his housing project would suffer as result, he contended and urged the court to peruse government records and quash the G.O.
He pointed out that according to the order the all-legislative party leaders’ meeting held under the chairmanship of the chief minister on May 22, 2007, had proposed to acquire 1069.99 acres of land in the villages of Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharapakkam in Sriperumbudur taluk of Kancheepuram district for expanding the Chennai airport. Also, 4820.66 acres of lands would be acquired for setting up a Greenfield airport.
The high court posted the case to September 27 for hearing.
Link:http://www.deccan.com/chennaichronicle/home/homedetails.asp#Plea%20in%20court%20to%20stop%20land%20acquisition%20for%20city%20airport
He submitted that the firm had bought the land at an enormous cost for developing layouts and providing housing to people. Being affordable, the plots came as a boon to the middle-income group, which could not afford to buy houses within the city. As the land was in disuse and was unfit for constructing houses, the firm had to develop it before handing it over to the buyers.
The entire area was prone to floods when the Adyar river was in spate. And so the firm had spent huge sums of money on developing the land and making it fit for building houses. He said the firm had obtained permission for developing the layout which it had called EVP Town and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority had approved the project.
He was shocked when the government passed the order which said the existing airport at Meenambakkam would be expanded by acquiring land in these parts, and he had sought clarification from the CMDA as to whether his land was included.
The CMDA had in its letter replied that his property did not form part of the proposed acquisition. So, the firm had proceeded with its developmental activities. But the government later cancelled the G.O and issued a fresh order in which the CMDA was directed to acquire land in the area where his project was taking shape.
Several landowners who had obtained loans from banks and purchased the plots in his housing project would suffer as result, he contended and urged the court to peruse government records and quash the G.O.
He pointed out that according to the order the all-legislative party leaders’ meeting held under the chairmanship of the chief minister on May 22, 2007, had proposed to acquire 1069.99 acres of land in the villages of Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharapakkam in Sriperumbudur taluk of Kancheepuram district for expanding the Chennai airport. Also, 4820.66 acres of lands would be acquired for setting up a Greenfield airport.
The high court posted the case to September 27 for hearing.
Link:http://www.deccan.com/chennaichronicle/home/homedetails.asp#Plea%20in%20court%20to%20stop%20land%20acquisition%20for%20city%20airport
Court seeks details of land acquisition for airport projects
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has called for land acquisition details for the proposed expansion of the Chennai airport and the greenfield airport scheme.
Justice A. Kulasekaran gave the direction to the State Government on a writ petition filed by E.V.P. Housing Chennai Private Limited, which sought to quash a Government Order, dated July 9, freezing all construction activities in the notified areas. He adjourned the matter by a week.
The impugned GO, passed by the Transport Department, cancelled an earlier sanction for acquisition of 583 hectares for restructuring and modernising the Chennai airport. Instead, it sought to acquire 1,069.99 acres at Manappakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharappakkam in Sriperumpudur taluk of Kancheepuram district for expansion of the existing airport.
The GO also proposed to acquire another 4,820.66 acres for setting up a greenfield airport in Sriperumpudur and Thiruvallur taluks near Chennai.
The petitioner said he had purchased the land at a huge cost and invested significantly in developing the residential plots. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authorities accorded approval even as late as May 2006. However, due to the lack of coordination among different government agencies, an acquisition proposal and a consequent order freezing all construction in the areas had been issued.
Purchasers of housing plots were facing a piquant situation as they could not continue construction of their buildings as banks had stopped releasing funds. But, they had to continue repayment of the loan sum already received, the petitioner-company said.
The petitioner wanted the court to quash the order.
Link:http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/19/stories/2007091961421000.htm
Justice A. Kulasekaran gave the direction to the State Government on a writ petition filed by E.V.P. Housing Chennai Private Limited, which sought to quash a Government Order, dated July 9, freezing all construction activities in the notified areas. He adjourned the matter by a week.
The impugned GO, passed by the Transport Department, cancelled an earlier sanction for acquisition of 583 hectares for restructuring and modernising the Chennai airport. Instead, it sought to acquire 1,069.99 acres at Manappakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharappakkam in Sriperumpudur taluk of Kancheepuram district for expansion of the existing airport.
The GO also proposed to acquire another 4,820.66 acres for setting up a greenfield airport in Sriperumpudur and Thiruvallur taluks near Chennai.
The petitioner said he had purchased the land at a huge cost and invested significantly in developing the residential plots. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authorities accorded approval even as late as May 2006. However, due to the lack of coordination among different government agencies, an acquisition proposal and a consequent order freezing all construction in the areas had been issued.
Purchasers of housing plots were facing a piquant situation as they could not continue construction of their buildings as banks had stopped releasing funds. But, they had to continue repayment of the loan sum already received, the petitioner-company said.
The petitioner wanted the court to quash the order.
Link:http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/19/stories/2007091961421000.htm
Finally, Chennai is granted its decade-old wish: second airport
Rs1,700-2,000 cr plan to upgrade the existing airport has also been approved; bids maybe invited by January
In a change in policy, the Union government has approved a 4,000-acre site for Chennai’s second airport at Sriperumbudur, an hour’s drive from the city centre.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, which runs the Tamil Nadu government and is a key ally in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre, had proposedthe site.
The government has also approved a plan to upgrade the current Chennai airport, at Meenambakkam, at an estimated cost of betweenRs1,700 crore and Rs2,000 crore. Bids for modernizing the airport, run by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), are likely to be invited by January, and awarded on a turnkey basis rather than splitting the contract between multiple engineering firms.
The civil aviation ministry had so far believed growing air traffic at Chennai could be accommodated by upgrading the existing airport. Chennai’s Anna International Airport, spread over 1,152 acres, is India’s third largest by air traffic and traffic is growing at 17.3% annually. At that rate and amid a paucity of land to expand operations, the government now believes Chennai will need a second airport. The airport, which handled 8.7 million passengers in 2006-07, is likely to reach its saturation capacity of nine million this year.
“We have asked them (the state government) to freeze the land so that whenever it has to be started (the process for second airport), we don’t face a similar problem,” said civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla, referring to illegal encroachments that have hampered expansion at airports elsewhere in the country.
The latest Sriperumbudur site is the fifth that the state government has zeroed in on after the idea for a second airport in Chennai was floated a decade ago. Feasibility studies of the site still need to beundertaken.
The state government has been asked to examine a plan to connect the site, which falls on the Chennai-Bangalore highway to Bangalore, to the city through an expressway that can handle high-speed road traffic. The highway is already clogged as Sriperumbudur is home to many automotive and other industries.
“At the end of the day, (for) a city of this size, two airports should make sense,” says Nand Kumar, an analyst with Fitch Ratings. But, given the huge costs involved, it would work best if work started on the existing airport “leaving (the new one) for a later date”. The state government has said the new airport will be built by the AAI.
Expanding the Meenambakkam airport could, however, face trouble since it will require over 1,000-acre land to build a second parallel runway. Much of this required land, pockets of which are inhabited by local residents, has still not been handed over by the state government, delaying the airport modernization.
The state government has said it will be able to acquire about 300 acres, which is located ahead of a cross-runway at the airport and can be used to extend it further. A cross-runway is shorter than the main runway and bisects it at one end, and can be used for takeoffs or landing in tandem with the main runway.
But an expert said simultaneous operations of both the main runway and the cross-runway (one for landing and the other for takeoff) may not work well.
“Normally when the main runway has been blocked due to an accident or something, then you use the cross-runway,” said Gurcharan Bhatura, the AAI’s former executive director (operations), who has studied the Chennai airport.
The model, he said, was not working well at the Mumbai airport because “there is so much pressure (on Air Traffic Controllers) that even in a minor mismatch, there (is) a sound collision chance,” he said.
Link:http://www.livemint.com/2007/09/19001225/Finally-Chennai-is-granted-it.html
In a change in policy, the Union government has approved a 4,000-acre site for Chennai’s second airport at Sriperumbudur, an hour’s drive from the city centre.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, which runs the Tamil Nadu government and is a key ally in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre, had proposedthe site.
The government has also approved a plan to upgrade the current Chennai airport, at Meenambakkam, at an estimated cost of betweenRs1,700 crore and Rs2,000 crore. Bids for modernizing the airport, run by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), are likely to be invited by January, and awarded on a turnkey basis rather than splitting the contract between multiple engineering firms.
The civil aviation ministry had so far believed growing air traffic at Chennai could be accommodated by upgrading the existing airport. Chennai’s Anna International Airport, spread over 1,152 acres, is India’s third largest by air traffic and traffic is growing at 17.3% annually. At that rate and amid a paucity of land to expand operations, the government now believes Chennai will need a second airport. The airport, which handled 8.7 million passengers in 2006-07, is likely to reach its saturation capacity of nine million this year.
“We have asked them (the state government) to freeze the land so that whenever it has to be started (the process for second airport), we don’t face a similar problem,” said civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla, referring to illegal encroachments that have hampered expansion at airports elsewhere in the country.
The latest Sriperumbudur site is the fifth that the state government has zeroed in on after the idea for a second airport in Chennai was floated a decade ago. Feasibility studies of the site still need to beundertaken.
The state government has been asked to examine a plan to connect the site, which falls on the Chennai-Bangalore highway to Bangalore, to the city through an expressway that can handle high-speed road traffic. The highway is already clogged as Sriperumbudur is home to many automotive and other industries.
“At the end of the day, (for) a city of this size, two airports should make sense,” says Nand Kumar, an analyst with Fitch Ratings. But, given the huge costs involved, it would work best if work started on the existing airport “leaving (the new one) for a later date”. The state government has said the new airport will be built by the AAI.
Expanding the Meenambakkam airport could, however, face trouble since it will require over 1,000-acre land to build a second parallel runway. Much of this required land, pockets of which are inhabited by local residents, has still not been handed over by the state government, delaying the airport modernization.
The state government has said it will be able to acquire about 300 acres, which is located ahead of a cross-runway at the airport and can be used to extend it further. A cross-runway is shorter than the main runway and bisects it at one end, and can be used for takeoffs or landing in tandem with the main runway.
But an expert said simultaneous operations of both the main runway and the cross-runway (one for landing and the other for takeoff) may not work well.
“Normally when the main runway has been blocked due to an accident or something, then you use the cross-runway,” said Gurcharan Bhatura, the AAI’s former executive director (operations), who has studied the Chennai airport.
The model, he said, was not working well at the Mumbai airport because “there is so much pressure (on Air Traffic Controllers) that even in a minor mismatch, there (is) a sound collision chance,” he said.
Link:http://www.livemint.com/2007/09/19001225/Finally-Chennai-is-granted-it.html
HIGH COURT REJECTS THE CASE FILED BY EVP
Chennai High Court Rejected the case filed by EVP to issue stay order 
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Airport expansion: Work to start in January 2008
CHENNAI: The Rs 2700-crore expansion project of the Chennai airport will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony in January, 2008.A parallel runway, to be connected to the secondary runway by means of a taxi way, will be constructed along with a new integrated terminal building, to make the existing airport capable of handling passenger and air traffic till 2016, said K N Shrivastava, joint secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation.
“Once the construction work begins, the project can be completed in 24 months. The new integrated terminal building with departure on the first floor and arrival on the ground floor will come up on the right side of the existing airport. Rs 1700 crore has been earmarked for the construction of the runway while Rs 1000 crore for the terminal building,’’ said Shrivastava.
He was part of a team of high-level officials which, on Friday, visited the identified site for the expansion of the existing airport at Sriperumbudur, where the Greenfield airport is proposed to be constructed.
The members of the team included Ashok Chawla, secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, K Ramalingam, chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Dinesh Kumar, director, Chennai Airport and Kancheepuram District Collector Pradeep Yadav.
“Everything has been finalized on the part of the AAI, which also handed over the land plan schedule to the district administration for the land acquisition almost a month ago,’’ he noted.
“As a rule there will not be any deviation from the land plan, submitted by the AAI. Architects have been appointed and a technical team has studied the project,’’ Shrivastava added.
He also said that the question of technical non-feasibility did not arise, even though the Adyar river flowed across the land identified for the expansion of the existing airport.
“There are several precedents of runways being built on bridges. Mumbai and London are examples,’’ he pointed out.
Greenfield airportAirport at Sriperumbudur will come up opposite the Saint Gobain factory, said K Ramalingam, chairman, AAI. Although the land had been identified, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the AAI had requested the simultaneous development of road and rail connectivity to the site, which had been included in the project proposal, he added.
K N Shrivastava, joint secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, said that the Greenfield airport would be developed in time to meet the growth in passenger and air traffic that is expected to exceed the capacity of the existing airport in the future.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE920070903042807&Title=Chennai&rLink=0
“Once the construction work begins, the project can be completed in 24 months. The new integrated terminal building with departure on the first floor and arrival on the ground floor will come up on the right side of the existing airport. Rs 1700 crore has been earmarked for the construction of the runway while Rs 1000 crore for the terminal building,’’ said Shrivastava.
He was part of a team of high-level officials which, on Friday, visited the identified site for the expansion of the existing airport at Sriperumbudur, where the Greenfield airport is proposed to be constructed.
The members of the team included Ashok Chawla, secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, K Ramalingam, chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Dinesh Kumar, director, Chennai Airport and Kancheepuram District Collector Pradeep Yadav.
“Everything has been finalized on the part of the AAI, which also handed over the land plan schedule to the district administration for the land acquisition almost a month ago,’’ he noted.
“As a rule there will not be any deviation from the land plan, submitted by the AAI. Architects have been appointed and a technical team has studied the project,’’ Shrivastava added.
He also said that the question of technical non-feasibility did not arise, even though the Adyar river flowed across the land identified for the expansion of the existing airport.
“There are several precedents of runways being built on bridges. Mumbai and London are examples,’’ he pointed out.
Greenfield airportAirport at Sriperumbudur will come up opposite the Saint Gobain factory, said K Ramalingam, chairman, AAI. Although the land had been identified, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the AAI had requested the simultaneous development of road and rail connectivity to the site, which had been included in the project proposal, he added.
K N Shrivastava, joint secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, said that the Greenfield airport would be developed in time to meet the growth in passenger and air traffic that is expected to exceed the capacity of the existing airport in the future.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE920070903042807&Title=Chennai&rLink=0
Work on second runway at Chennai airport to begin by January 2008
Monday, September 03, 2007
The construction of a second runway at the Chennai airport will begin by January 2008.
An investment of Rs.2,700 crore will be allocated for the expansion work. Of this, Rs.1,000 crore has been earmarked for the runway and the remaining for constructing the terminal building.
In August 2007, the Airports Authority of India officials had sent the Land Plan Schedule to the Kacheepuram district administration for starting the land acquisition process. A taxiway will be created to connect the second runway and the parallel runway. Work on the runway is scheduled for completion within 24 months from the date of commencement.
http://www.projectstoday.com/newsr.asp?newsid=19104
The construction of a second runway at the Chennai airport will begin by January 2008.
An investment of Rs.2,700 crore will be allocated for the expansion work. Of this, Rs.1,000 crore has been earmarked for the runway and the remaining for constructing the terminal building.
In August 2007, the Airports Authority of India officials had sent the Land Plan Schedule to the Kacheepuram district administration for starting the land acquisition process. A taxiway will be created to connect the second runway and the parallel runway. Work on the runway is scheduled for completion within 24 months from the date of commencement.
http://www.projectstoday.com/newsr.asp?newsid=19104
Monday, September 3, 2007
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Work on second runway soon
CHENNAI: The construction of a second runway at the Chennai airport will begin in January next year, K.N. Shrivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, said on Friday.
Mr. Shrivastava inspected the site for the runway.
“The second runway work will be completed within 24 months from the day of beginning,” he said.
About a month ago Airports Authority of India officials sent the Land Plan Schedule to the Kacheepuram district administration for starting the land acquisition process, Mr. Shrivastava said.
A sum of Rs.2,700 crore would be allocated for the expansion work. Of this, Rs.1,000 crore had been earmarked for the runway and the remaining for constructing the terminal building. The new terminal building would come up on the right side of the existing airport, he said.
A taxiway would be created to connect the second runway and the parallel runway.
Inspection at Sriperumbudur
A team of officials led by Ashok Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, K.N. Shrivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Dr. K. Ramalingam, Chairman, Airports Authority of India, Dr. K. Ramalingam, Southern Regional Executive Director, Airports Authority of India, Dinesh Kumar, Chennai Airport Director and Prateep Yadav, Collector, Kancheepuram district inspected the area identified for the ‘Green Field Airport’ near the SIPCOT Industrial Estate at Sriperumbudur on Friday.
Link:http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/02/stories/2007090260150600.htm
Mr. Shrivastava inspected the site for the runway.
“The second runway work will be completed within 24 months from the day of beginning,” he said.
About a month ago Airports Authority of India officials sent the Land Plan Schedule to the Kacheepuram district administration for starting the land acquisition process, Mr. Shrivastava said.
A sum of Rs.2,700 crore would be allocated for the expansion work. Of this, Rs.1,000 crore had been earmarked for the runway and the remaining for constructing the terminal building. The new terminal building would come up on the right side of the existing airport, he said.
A taxiway would be created to connect the second runway and the parallel runway.
Inspection at Sriperumbudur
A team of officials led by Ashok Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, K.N. Shrivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Dr. K. Ramalingam, Chairman, Airports Authority of India, Dr. K. Ramalingam, Southern Regional Executive Director, Airports Authority of India, Dinesh Kumar, Chennai Airport Director and Prateep Yadav, Collector, Kancheepuram district inspected the area identified for the ‘Green Field Airport’ near the SIPCOT Industrial Estate at Sriperumbudur on Friday.
Link:http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/02/stories/2007090260150600.htm
Secondary runway at Chennai airport to be extended
Chennai, Sept. 2 The expansion of the Chennai airport may well take up to June 2010 to complete, but an interim measure is being planned to enhance the capacity of the airport in the meantime.
The length of the existing secondary runway (the cross runway) is to be extended by about 300 metres, Mr K.N. Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, told Business Line here. (Speaking to Business Line later, Mr Dinesh Kumar, Director, Chennai Airport, said that the extension could be longer — more than 500 metres.)
Currently, Chennai can handle 30 flights an hour. Once the cross runway is extended, the airport can handle 45 flights an hour. However, after the entire expansion is over — that is, after the parallel runway comes up on the other side of the Adyar river — the secondary runway will become a taxi way, he said.
Meanwhile, the authorities were planning to spend Rs 200 crore on upgradation of the cargo handling facilities.
Mr Dinesh Kumar said that at present the airport could handle 2 lakh tonnes of cargo. The demand for cargo movement is growing by about 15 per cent a year.
The upgradation project, which will create more covered space, will meet the growing needs, he said.
Link:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/09/03/stories/2007090351501500.htm
The length of the existing secondary runway (the cross runway) is to be extended by about 300 metres, Mr K.N. Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, told Business Line here. (Speaking to Business Line later, Mr Dinesh Kumar, Director, Chennai Airport, said that the extension could be longer — more than 500 metres.)
Currently, Chennai can handle 30 flights an hour. Once the cross runway is extended, the airport can handle 45 flights an hour. However, after the entire expansion is over — that is, after the parallel runway comes up on the other side of the Adyar river — the secondary runway will become a taxi way, he said.
Meanwhile, the authorities were planning to spend Rs 200 crore on upgradation of the cargo handling facilities.
Mr Dinesh Kumar said that at present the airport could handle 2 lakh tonnes of cargo. The demand for cargo movement is growing by about 15 per cent a year.
The upgradation project, which will create more covered space, will meet the growing needs, he said.
Link:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/09/03/stories/2007090351501500.htm
Thursday, August 30, 2007
India's Greenest Airport-Chennai Airport
India's Greenest Airport
A team of firms won the $300 million project to transform Chennai International by 2010
by Neelam Mathews
The Airports Authority of India has chosen plans by a team of architects including Frederic Schwartz Architects, Hargreaves Associates, Gensler, and New Delhi-based Creative Group to expand the Chennai International Airport's domestic and international terminals. When completed in 2010, the $300 million project will transform Chennai, located in the city formerly known as Madras, into India's greenest airport.
The Kamraj Domestic Terminal, in particular, will showcase sustainable technologies. The 23-year-old building currently measures 139,931 square feet and handles 4.74 million passengers a year. Its revamped design will allow it to accommodate twice as many passengers in a three-story structure 984 feet long, encompassing some 781,460 square feet.
The organization of security and circulation forms the basis of the plan, which centers around two lush, ecologically sustainable gardens measuring nearly an acre apiece. "These gardens are visible throughout the terminal creating a unique dialogue between interior and exterior spaces," says Frederic Schwartz, who together with Creative Group was also recently awarded the commission to design a new terminal at India's Raipur airport, in the country's central region.
A parking garage with a green roof will create what the designers describe as a "green gate" to the terminal. "The folding geometry of the green roof captures and directs rain water during the rain season to the elliptical openings in the roof, creating shimmering ‘rain curtains' as the water falls through the garage to cisterns below. This stored water is later used during the dry season to irrigate the green roof and maximize the site's sustainable resources."
Gurpreet Shah, a Creative Group principal, notes that rain harvesting is mandated by Indian law. But Chennai's decision to go green was largely a voluntary one. Although the country is working to adopt the LEED rating system, the program will not cover airports. "We are conscious about it and will try to incorporate as much [sustainable technology] as we can," Shah says.
Link:http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/aug2007/id20070830_178924.htm?chan=innovation_architecture_top+stories
A team of firms won the $300 million project to transform Chennai International by 2010
by Neelam Mathews
The Airports Authority of India has chosen plans by a team of architects including Frederic Schwartz Architects, Hargreaves Associates, Gensler, and New Delhi-based Creative Group to expand the Chennai International Airport's domestic and international terminals. When completed in 2010, the $300 million project will transform Chennai, located in the city formerly known as Madras, into India's greenest airport.
The Kamraj Domestic Terminal, in particular, will showcase sustainable technologies. The 23-year-old building currently measures 139,931 square feet and handles 4.74 million passengers a year. Its revamped design will allow it to accommodate twice as many passengers in a three-story structure 984 feet long, encompassing some 781,460 square feet.
The organization of security and circulation forms the basis of the plan, which centers around two lush, ecologically sustainable gardens measuring nearly an acre apiece. "These gardens are visible throughout the terminal creating a unique dialogue between interior and exterior spaces," says Frederic Schwartz, who together with Creative Group was also recently awarded the commission to design a new terminal at India's Raipur airport, in the country's central region.
A parking garage with a green roof will create what the designers describe as a "green gate" to the terminal. "The folding geometry of the green roof captures and directs rain water during the rain season to the elliptical openings in the roof, creating shimmering ‘rain curtains' as the water falls through the garage to cisterns below. This stored water is later used during the dry season to irrigate the green roof and maximize the site's sustainable resources."
Gurpreet Shah, a Creative Group principal, notes that rain harvesting is mandated by Indian law. But Chennai's decision to go green was largely a voluntary one. Although the country is working to adopt the LEED rating system, the program will not cover airports. "We are conscious about it and will try to incorporate as much [sustainable technology] as we can," Shah says.
Link:http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/aug2007/id20070830_178924.htm?chan=innovation_architecture_top+stories
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
India to be recognized as a global aviation hub
The Government is committed to create a network of world-class airports in the country with a view to establishing India as a global aviation hub.
Measures have been taken
to augment capacity as a result of which additional capacity to handle 601.05 lakh passengers per annum on the domestic sector and 301.80 lakh passengers per annum
on international sector is under construction and is likely to be commissioned within the next two – three years.
This information was given by Praful Patel in a written reply to a question.
The Government has undertaken a number of major projects in pursuance of the above objective; to develop, expand, modernize the airports which include restructuring of
Delhi and Mumbai airport, through Joint Venture Route, for upgradation and modernization, at an estimated cost of Rs89bn and Rs70bn respectively. Modernizing and expansion of Kolkata and Chennai airports by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
For Full article,Please visit the following link
Link:http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/innernews.asp?storyId=43282&lmn=1
Measures have been taken
to augment capacity as a result of which additional capacity to handle 601.05 lakh passengers per annum on the domestic sector and 301.80 lakh passengers per annum
on international sector is under construction and is likely to be commissioned within the next two – three years.
This information was given by Praful Patel in a written reply to a question.
The Government has undertaken a number of major projects in pursuance of the above objective; to develop, expand, modernize the airports which include restructuring of
Delhi and Mumbai airport, through Joint Venture Route, for upgradation and modernization, at an estimated cost of Rs89bn and Rs70bn respectively. Modernizing and expansion of Kolkata and Chennai airports by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
For Full article,Please visit the following link
Link:http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/innernews.asp?storyId=43282&lmn=1
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Manapakkam investors left in the lurch
KANCHEEPURAM: A group of investors from Manapakkam, on the outskirts of Chennai, walked away from the District Collectorate with a sense of insecurity writ large on their faces here on Monday.
Talking to reporters, they said that several of them had invested their retirement benefits/ hard earned money in the housing project promoted by a Kilpauk-based real estate promoter during 2003-04.
“Being cautious by nature, we took utmost care in verifying the details presented to us by the promoter and also the veracity of a report that the National Airports Authority of India was looking for space for Chennai Airport Expansion project,” they said.
The investors heaved a sigh of relief at media reports that the NAAI had rejected the land acquisition proposal citing ‘poor’ and ‘weak’ soil conditions in Manapakkam, Gerugembakkam, Tharapakkam and Kolapakkam areas.
Subsequently, the very same promoter launched Phase-II township project in 2006 in same area.
Link:http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/22/stories/2007082260280400.htm
Talking to reporters, they said that several of them had invested their retirement benefits/ hard earned money in the housing project promoted by a Kilpauk-based real estate promoter during 2003-04.
“Being cautious by nature, we took utmost care in verifying the details presented to us by the promoter and also the veracity of a report that the National Airports Authority of India was looking for space for Chennai Airport Expansion project,” they said.
The investors heaved a sigh of relief at media reports that the NAAI had rejected the land acquisition proposal citing ‘poor’ and ‘weak’ soil conditions in Manapakkam, Gerugembakkam, Tharapakkam and Kolapakkam areas.
Subsequently, the very same promoter launched Phase-II township project in 2006 in same area.
Link:http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/22/stories/2007082260280400.htm
Sunday, August 12, 2007
AAI to invest Rs4000cr in Kol, Chennai a'port rejig
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has started modernisation work on the Kolkata and Chennai airports, K Ramalingam, chairman, AAI, said at a seminar on air route development today.
The development work will include construction of new terminals, additional runways and taxiways in both the airports. The AAI will spend Rs 2000 crore each for upgradation of the airports. The target year for completion of this project is 2010.
"We have drawn up plans to modernise both the airports. Designs of terminal buildings and expansion of existing ones have already been approved," said Ramalingam. He also said that the airport infrastructure at Chennai and Kolkata would be upgraded to make landing of aircraft like the Airbus A-380 possible.
AAI has already appointed consultants for the modernisation project, sources said. The consultant for Kolkata airport modernization is a consortium which Indian firms partnering with Hong Kong's RMJM and a Paris-based firm ADPI, while for Chennai the consultants are Creative Group with Frederic Schwartz and Genslers of the US.
After modernisation, Kolkata airport's passenger handling capacity will rise from 5.4 million passengers annually to 20 million by 2010. This will be sufficient for handling passengers till 2015-16. Work on nine domestic bays, three cargo bays and 11 additional parking bays has already started along with construction of the new terminal building.
In addition, a new ATC control tower is being built and automation being introduced in air traffic management and navigation. The new terminal building will have an area of around 180,000 sq metres. 104 check-in counters, 44 immigration counters, 25 security gates, five conveyor belts and 15 aerobridges will be the other features of the airport post development.
In Chennai, a new terminal building will be constructed and that along with the existing terminal will take passenger capacity from10 million annually to 30 million by 2010. This development work would make the airport adequate passenger handling capacity till 2015-16. The new terminal building will measure more than 140,000 sq mts. In addition to that there will be 140 check-in counters, 60 immigration counters, 7 security gates (3 international, 4 domestic), 4 conveyor belts and 7 aerobridges.
In addition to that, 7 inline baggage systems will be installed in five airports namely Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Srinagar and Calicut. The system makes it unnecessary for the passenger to go for pre-check through x-ray machines. They will directly check in and the baggages screened. This involves an expenditure of Rs 50 crore. The second phase will see these systems installed in 8 other airports viz Amritsar, Guwahati, Varanasi, Trivandrum, Vizag, Trichy, Jaipur and Udaipur.
Speaking at the seminar, Ramalingam said that there would soon be special strictures and guidelines for the airports across the country. Apart from guidelines laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA), there would be other customer service surveys across for all the 42 airports-6 metros and 35 non-metros in the country.
Currently, Airports Council International (ACI), an international airport body is conducting a airport service quality survey at the Delhi airport. The survey is based on 34 criteria like availability of parking facilities, efficiency of staff and finer details like sanitation and cleanliness of toilets.
Speaking about security and efficient air space navigation, Ramalingam said that the satellite based navigation system,GAGAN would be implemented by the beginning of 2010. A large part of the infrastructure is already in place and feasibility trials are being conducted. He also said that more radars were being procured for better air traffic control and within two years the entire airspace would have radar coverage with an efficient network between all the radars. He also said that efforts were being made to provide night landing facilities to airports across the country.
Link:http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=26448
The development work will include construction of new terminals, additional runways and taxiways in both the airports. The AAI will spend Rs 2000 crore each for upgradation of the airports. The target year for completion of this project is 2010.
"We have drawn up plans to modernise both the airports. Designs of terminal buildings and expansion of existing ones have already been approved," said Ramalingam. He also said that the airport infrastructure at Chennai and Kolkata would be upgraded to make landing of aircraft like the Airbus A-380 possible.
AAI has already appointed consultants for the modernisation project, sources said. The consultant for Kolkata airport modernization is a consortium which Indian firms partnering with Hong Kong's RMJM and a Paris-based firm ADPI, while for Chennai the consultants are Creative Group with Frederic Schwartz and Genslers of the US.
After modernisation, Kolkata airport's passenger handling capacity will rise from 5.4 million passengers annually to 20 million by 2010. This will be sufficient for handling passengers till 2015-16. Work on nine domestic bays, three cargo bays and 11 additional parking bays has already started along with construction of the new terminal building.
In addition, a new ATC control tower is being built and automation being introduced in air traffic management and navigation. The new terminal building will have an area of around 180,000 sq metres. 104 check-in counters, 44 immigration counters, 25 security gates, five conveyor belts and 15 aerobridges will be the other features of the airport post development.
In Chennai, a new terminal building will be constructed and that along with the existing terminal will take passenger capacity from10 million annually to 30 million by 2010. This development work would make the airport adequate passenger handling capacity till 2015-16. The new terminal building will measure more than 140,000 sq mts. In addition to that there will be 140 check-in counters, 60 immigration counters, 7 security gates (3 international, 4 domestic), 4 conveyor belts and 7 aerobridges.
In addition to that, 7 inline baggage systems will be installed in five airports namely Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Srinagar and Calicut. The system makes it unnecessary for the passenger to go for pre-check through x-ray machines. They will directly check in and the baggages screened. This involves an expenditure of Rs 50 crore. The second phase will see these systems installed in 8 other airports viz Amritsar, Guwahati, Varanasi, Trivandrum, Vizag, Trichy, Jaipur and Udaipur.
Speaking at the seminar, Ramalingam said that there would soon be special strictures and guidelines for the airports across the country. Apart from guidelines laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA), there would be other customer service surveys across for all the 42 airports-6 metros and 35 non-metros in the country.
Currently, Airports Council International (ACI), an international airport body is conducting a airport service quality survey at the Delhi airport. The survey is based on 34 criteria like availability of parking facilities, efficiency of staff and finer details like sanitation and cleanliness of toilets.
Speaking about security and efficient air space navigation, Ramalingam said that the satellite based navigation system,GAGAN would be implemented by the beginning of 2010. A large part of the infrastructure is already in place and feasibility trials are being conducted. He also said that more radars were being procured for better air traffic control and within two years the entire airspace would have radar coverage with an efficient network between all the radars. He also said that efforts were being made to provide night landing facilities to airports across the country.
Link:http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=26448
AAI begins work on Kolkata, Chennai airport upgrade
NEW DELHI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Friday said it has started work on modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports and will construct new terminals, additional runways and taxiways at a total estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore.
"We have drawn up ambitious plans to modernise these two airports. Designs of new terminal buildings and expansion of existing ones have already been approved for both the airports," AAI Chairman K Ramalingam said at a seminar on air route development here.
He said the estimated cost of modernising the two airports would be Rs 2,000 crore each and the target date is 2010. The plans also include the construction of new runways, parking spaces, taxiways and new airspace management and air traffic control systems.
The process of city-side development of these airports and connectivity was also being discussed, Ramalingam said. He also dwelt on the modernisation of 35 non-metro airports that were being developed simultaneously and the AAI was making efforts to meet the specific target set up for each project.
Special surveys were being conducted to check the standards of services being provided at metro airports, which would later be extended to the non-metro ones. Referring to the congestion in airspace over major airports like those in Delhi and Mumbai, Ramalingam said the development of new routes, besides enhancement of the technological capabilities of airspace management and ATC, was being looked into.
The seminar, organised by AAI and UK-based Route Development Group, would go into a gamut of issues relating to expansion of the air route network in India as well as the region.
Link:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/AAI_starts_work_on_modernisation/articleshow/2271670.cms
"We have drawn up ambitious plans to modernise these two airports. Designs of new terminal buildings and expansion of existing ones have already been approved for both the airports," AAI Chairman K Ramalingam said at a seminar on air route development here.
He said the estimated cost of modernising the two airports would be Rs 2,000 crore each and the target date is 2010. The plans also include the construction of new runways, parking spaces, taxiways and new airspace management and air traffic control systems.
The process of city-side development of these airports and connectivity was also being discussed, Ramalingam said. He also dwelt on the modernisation of 35 non-metro airports that were being developed simultaneously and the AAI was making efforts to meet the specific target set up for each project.
Special surveys were being conducted to check the standards of services being provided at metro airports, which would later be extended to the non-metro ones. Referring to the congestion in airspace over major airports like those in Delhi and Mumbai, Ramalingam said the development of new routes, besides enhancement of the technological capabilities of airspace management and ATC, was being looked into.
The seminar, organised by AAI and UK-based Route Development Group, would go into a gamut of issues relating to expansion of the air route network in India as well as the region.
Link:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/AAI_starts_work_on_modernisation/articleshow/2271670.cms
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Airports Authority of India to invest in the upgrade of Chennai and Kolkata airports
CAPA): Civil Aviation Ministry announced the Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to invest USD496 million in the upgrade of Chennai and Kolkata airports.
The total cost of modernising airports in both Chennai and Kolkata is estimated at over USD868 million. According to the Hindu Business Times, Ashok Chawla, Secretary stated, “AAI plans to raise about USD496 million mainly in 2008-09 and 2009-10 as a major portion of the work would be undertaken at that time.
AAI will decide on what is the cheapest manner of raising the money, whether domestically or through external commercial borrowing route”.The Ministry is additionally considering a request from the State governments to share costs for acquiring the required land for the airport expansions.
Currently State governments accept the total cost of acquiring land, which is then provided to AAI for airport expansion.
Link:http://indiaaviation.aero/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4095&Itemid=59
The total cost of modernising airports in both Chennai and Kolkata is estimated at over USD868 million. According to the Hindu Business Times, Ashok Chawla, Secretary stated, “AAI plans to raise about USD496 million mainly in 2008-09 and 2009-10 as a major portion of the work would be undertaken at that time.
AAI will decide on what is the cheapest manner of raising the money, whether domestically or through external commercial borrowing route”.The Ministry is additionally considering a request from the State governments to share costs for acquiring the required land for the airport expansions.
Currently State governments accept the total cost of acquiring land, which is then provided to AAI for airport expansion.
Link:http://indiaaviation.aero/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4095&Itemid=59
Sunday, July 22, 2007
ECB for upgrading Chennai, Kolkata airports
NEW DELHI: To fund the modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports, the airport authority of India (AAI) would borrow Rs 2,000 crore.
Debt would be mopped up from the domestic market or channeled through external commercial borrowing (ECB).
Modernisation of the two airports is estimated to cost Rs 5,700 crore. “We are open to both the routes for generating money. Wherever we would find better rate of interest we would go for that,” civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla said on the sidelines of a conference of chief secretaries on public-private partnership (PPP).
Earlier the government had planned to develop both the airports on public-private partnership on the lines of Delhi and Mumbai. However, the government has decided that upgradation of both airports would be done by AAI.
Link:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Economy/ECB_for_upgrading_Chennai_Kolkata_airports/articleshow/2224278.cms
Debt would be mopped up from the domestic market or channeled through external commercial borrowing (ECB).
Modernisation of the two airports is estimated to cost Rs 5,700 crore. “We are open to both the routes for generating money. Wherever we would find better rate of interest we would go for that,” civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla said on the sidelines of a conference of chief secretaries on public-private partnership (PPP).
Earlier the government had planned to develop both the airports on public-private partnership on the lines of Delhi and Mumbai. However, the government has decided that upgradation of both airports would be done by AAI.
Link:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Economy/ECB_for_upgrading_Chennai_Kolkata_airports/articleshow/2224278.cms
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
AAI to modernise Chennai airport
Clearing the proposal to let Airports Authority of India (AAI) modernise and upgrade the existing Chennai airport, the Prime Minister's Committee on Infrastructure (CoI) also accorded an "in principle" approval to the setting up of a greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur.
With AAI likely to construct the new greenfield airport, the Tamil Nadu government's wish to get both the projects executed through AAI has been fulfilled.
"The first phase of development at the existing Chennai airport would be over by 2010 and will cost around Rs 2,350 crore. The additional land required for modernisation would be provided by the Tamil Nadu government," said civil aviation minister Praful Patel.
For the greenfield airport, Patel said 4,821 acres of land had already been identified by the state government and the AAI would now conduct a techno-feasibility study for it.
While the construction of runway, taxiway and apron would cost around Rs 1,100 crore, the cost of constructing the terminal building, cargo building, car park and face uplift would be around Rs 1,250 crore.
In 2006-07, the existing airport handled 97,680 aircraft movement and its capacity to handle aircraft movement is likely to saturate by 2014-15. The airport's international terminal handled 2.8 million passengers against a capacity of 3 million per year in 2006-07. Similarly, it handled 5.9 million passengers against an annual capacity of 6 million passengers in 2006-07. Both these terminals are likely to be saturated by 2007-08.
Spread over an area of 1,152 acres, the existing Chennai airport has two runways (3,658 metres and 2,032 metres) and handles 25 aircraft movements per hour. While the existing domestic terminal handles 4.73 million passengers per annum, constructing an additional domestic terminal would add a capacity of five million passengers per annum.
Works amounting to Rs 221.89 crore, relating to terminal buildings, parking bays, cargo building and operations block, are currently underway at the existing airport. Once developed, these facilities would cater to a traffic demand up to the year 2010. AAI plans to construct a new domestic terminal, expand the international one, construct Phase III of the integrated cargo building and new parking bays at a cost of Rs 705 crore.
http://www.expresstravelworld.com/200707/aviationworld21.shtml
With AAI likely to construct the new greenfield airport, the Tamil Nadu government's wish to get both the projects executed through AAI has been fulfilled.
"The first phase of development at the existing Chennai airport would be over by 2010 and will cost around Rs 2,350 crore. The additional land required for modernisation would be provided by the Tamil Nadu government," said civil aviation minister Praful Patel.
For the greenfield airport, Patel said 4,821 acres of land had already been identified by the state government and the AAI would now conduct a techno-feasibility study for it.
While the construction of runway, taxiway and apron would cost around Rs 1,100 crore, the cost of constructing the terminal building, cargo building, car park and face uplift would be around Rs 1,250 crore.
In 2006-07, the existing airport handled 97,680 aircraft movement and its capacity to handle aircraft movement is likely to saturate by 2014-15. The airport's international terminal handled 2.8 million passengers against a capacity of 3 million per year in 2006-07. Similarly, it handled 5.9 million passengers against an annual capacity of 6 million passengers in 2006-07. Both these terminals are likely to be saturated by 2007-08.
Spread over an area of 1,152 acres, the existing Chennai airport has two runways (3,658 metres and 2,032 metres) and handles 25 aircraft movements per hour. While the existing domestic terminal handles 4.73 million passengers per annum, constructing an additional domestic terminal would add a capacity of five million passengers per annum.
Works amounting to Rs 221.89 crore, relating to terminal buildings, parking bays, cargo building and operations block, are currently underway at the existing airport. Once developed, these facilities would cater to a traffic demand up to the year 2010. AAI plans to construct a new domestic terminal, expand the international one, construct Phase III of the integrated cargo building and new parking bays at a cost of Rs 705 crore.
http://www.expresstravelworld.com/200707/aviationworld21.shtml
Monday, July 16, 2007
Construction activities frozen in airport expansion areas
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Government has frozen all building activities in the areas where it proposes to acquire land for expansion of the existing Chennai airport and for the construction of a new greenfield airport.
The State Transport Department has issued last week an order directing the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to freeze all construction activities in Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharapakkam, all in the outskirts of the city, where 1069.99 acres is proposed to be acquired for the airport expansion project and also the approach areas after getting details from the Airport Authorities of India.
The freeze comes at a time, when the residents of some colonies in Manapakkam, whose houses now face demolition consequent on acquisition proceedings, have are protesting and have even petitioned the government for cancellation of the land acquisition notification.
The government has also directed freezing of construction in the areas falling within Sriperumbudur and Thiruvallur taluks of Kancheepuram district, which are to be acquired for the constrution of the greenfiled airport.
Simultaneously, the government has cancelled the GO issued for acquisition of lands in areas like Pozhichalur and Anakaputhur on the northern side of the existing Chennai airport, where the expansion work had originally been planned to be taken up.
Conseqwuent on this, the freeze on construction activities in these aras have also been revoked.The State Government had originally proposed to hand over more than 800 acres of land in the Pozhichalur-Anakaputhur belt, which had sparked off protracted and vociferous protests from the residents in these areas.
The pitch of the protests had risen higher when political parties like the CPM and PMK also threw their weight behind the residents.In fact there had been a running battle between the PMK and the DMK, with the former even accusing some nfluential persons in the DMK of having vested interest in the proposal.
However, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had defused the situation by convening an all-party meeting on May 22, which opted for expansion of the airport on the souther-western side of the airport and also a greenfield airport near Sriperumbudur.Subsequently, the government had issued notification for the lands to be acquired in these areas.
Link:http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE920070716142034&Page=9&Title=Chennai&Topic=0
The State Transport Department has issued last week an order directing the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to freeze all construction activities in Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharapakkam, all in the outskirts of the city, where 1069.99 acres is proposed to be acquired for the airport expansion project and also the approach areas after getting details from the Airport Authorities of India.
The freeze comes at a time, when the residents of some colonies in Manapakkam, whose houses now face demolition consequent on acquisition proceedings, have are protesting and have even petitioned the government for cancellation of the land acquisition notification.
The government has also directed freezing of construction in the areas falling within Sriperumbudur and Thiruvallur taluks of Kancheepuram district, which are to be acquired for the constrution of the greenfiled airport.
Simultaneously, the government has cancelled the GO issued for acquisition of lands in areas like Pozhichalur and Anakaputhur on the northern side of the existing Chennai airport, where the expansion work had originally been planned to be taken up.
Conseqwuent on this, the freeze on construction activities in these aras have also been revoked.The State Government had originally proposed to hand over more than 800 acres of land in the Pozhichalur-Anakaputhur belt, which had sparked off protracted and vociferous protests from the residents in these areas.
The pitch of the protests had risen higher when political parties like the CPM and PMK also threw their weight behind the residents.In fact there had been a running battle between the PMK and the DMK, with the former even accusing some nfluential persons in the DMK of having vested interest in the proposal.
However, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had defused the situation by convening an all-party meeting on May 22, which opted for expansion of the airport on the souther-western side of the airport and also a greenfield airport near Sriperumbudur.Subsequently, the government had issued notification for the lands to be acquired in these areas.
Link:http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE920070716142034&Page=9&Title=Chennai&Topic=0
Sunday, July 15, 2007
“We need to expand aviation infrastructure”
What is the progress on Chennai airport’s modernisation after it was recently cleared by the Union Cabinet?
Yes, we have the Cabinet clearance for Chennai. [The] Airports Authority of India is drawing up plans quickly. We want to make it comparable to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore or Hyderabad and we are getting a top international company to give us a master plan and design. It will be a global competition. We will get the best technical expertise. Chennai and Kolkata both will have really world class airports. We will give it as a turnkey project for construction. We will bring in a lot of new things, it will not be a typically AAI airport. We will ask AAI to compete with the private sector and show that they are coming up with an airport as good as may be Bangalore and Hyderabad. And Chennai has to compete with both Bangalore and Hyderabad because both these cities are getting new world class airports. This will have to be a first class facility.
Link:http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/16/stories/2007071655531300.htm
Yes, we have the Cabinet clearance for Chennai. [The] Airports Authority of India is drawing up plans quickly. We want to make it comparable to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore or Hyderabad and we are getting a top international company to give us a master plan and design. It will be a global competition. We will get the best technical expertise. Chennai and Kolkata both will have really world class airports. We will give it as a turnkey project for construction. We will bring in a lot of new things, it will not be a typically AAI airport. We will ask AAI to compete with the private sector and show that they are coming up with an airport as good as may be Bangalore and Hyderabad. And Chennai has to compete with both Bangalore and Hyderabad because both these cities are getting new world class airports. This will have to be a first class facility.
Link:http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/16/stories/2007071655531300.htm
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