Modernisation of Kolkata, Chennai airports to begin next month
Press Trust Of India / New Delhi August 21, 2008, 15:40 IST
Construction activities for modernising and expanding the Kolkata and Chennai airports by the Airports Authority of India will begin by the end of next month, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said today.
"Physical construction (at these two airports) should begin by the end of September," he said after inaugurating the country's longest runway at the IGI Airport here.
Patel said the acquisition of land for Chennai airport's expansion was a state subject. "If the State Government wants (to expedite the project), they will have to acquire the land soon and give it to us."
Replying a question on the Government's recent decision to allow charging of user development fees by the private operator of the new Hyderabad airport, Patel said "We are considering the same for the new airport at Bangalore. We will examine all parameters before we take a decision."
He said Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla recently visited Bangalore to study various aspects of the issue.
Asked about airport charges proposed to be imposed by Delhi International Airport Limited and Mumbai International Airport Limited, the Minister said the issue was before the Ministry. "Based on certain parameters, a judicious decision will be taken."
Earlier, an Air India Boeing 777-300ER (extended range) aircraft became the first to land at the new 4,430-metre runway. The aircraft was welcomed by a water salute (a spray of water from both sides) while taxiing to a temporary bay.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?tp=on&autono=45049
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) The modernisation and expansion of the Kolkata and Chennai airports will start from next month, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel announced soon after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the projects Thursday.
‘The foundation of these two projects will be done next month and its development and expansion will be completed in the next three years,’ he told reporters.
Patel also hoped that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) - developing these airports - would not need any external help to fund these projects.
The government has earmarked Rs.19.42 billion and Rs.18 billion, respectively, for the Kolkata and the Chennai airports.
For the Kolkata airport, AAI would fund 80 percent of the project cost (Rs.15.54 billion) through internal resources and the balance 20 percent (Rs.3.88 billion) through commercial borrowings.
Similarly, for Chennai airport, AAI would have 80 percent (Rs.14.46 billion) funding through internal resources and 20 percent (Rs.3.61 billion), through commercial borrowings.
‘I envisage that they (AAI) would not need any external help for these projects. This is an opportunity for the AAI to compete with the private developers. The AAI can create these two airports into models and compete with the private sector to develop world-class airports. They can even compete in the international arena,’ said the minister.
Both the projects envisage large investments and would be completed in a time-bound manner, Patel said, adding that the upgraded airports would cater to the needs of Kolkata and Chennai for the next two decades.
After completion, the two airports will be on par with those at New Delhi and Mumbai, the minister added.
Patel said the modernisation and expansion work will be done by the state-run AAI, which would also retain ownership of the two airports.
‘Only the non-aeronautical revenue and places outside the air side will be open for a public-private partnership (PPP)’ he said.
The minister said land acquisition issues have been sorted out with both the state governments.
The expansion projects at both the airports have been delayed, and Patel had in May raised the issue with the Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
He said ‘the constant objections’ on the size and scale of the project raised by the commission were responsible for the delay in the project.
Responding to a question on the possibility of a second airport around the national capital, the minister said the matter was with the Group of Ministers (GoM).
‘We are open to having an airport at Jhajjar (in Haryana) or Jhevar (at Great Noida). It all depends on the GoM’s decision,’ he said.
The GoM is looking into the intricacies of the issue, which includes legal and other contractual agreements and obligations the government has with the Delhi International Airport Ltd, which is developing Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Patel said the airport’s new third runway at the IGI airport would start its operations from the month end.
http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/11950.htm
‘The foundation of these two projects will be done next month and its development and expansion will be completed in the next three years,’ he told reporters.
Patel also hoped that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) - developing these airports - would not need any external help to fund these projects.
The government has earmarked Rs.19.42 billion and Rs.18 billion, respectively, for the Kolkata and the Chennai airports.
For the Kolkata airport, AAI would fund 80 percent of the project cost (Rs.15.54 billion) through internal resources and the balance 20 percent (Rs.3.88 billion) through commercial borrowings.
Similarly, for Chennai airport, AAI would have 80 percent (Rs.14.46 billion) funding through internal resources and 20 percent (Rs.3.61 billion), through commercial borrowings.
‘I envisage that they (AAI) would not need any external help for these projects. This is an opportunity for the AAI to compete with the private developers. The AAI can create these two airports into models and compete with the private sector to develop world-class airports. They can even compete in the international arena,’ said the minister.
Both the projects envisage large investments and would be completed in a time-bound manner, Patel said, adding that the upgraded airports would cater to the needs of Kolkata and Chennai for the next two decades.
After completion, the two airports will be on par with those at New Delhi and Mumbai, the minister added.
Patel said the modernisation and expansion work will be done by the state-run AAI, which would also retain ownership of the two airports.
‘Only the non-aeronautical revenue and places outside the air side will be open for a public-private partnership (PPP)’ he said.
The minister said land acquisition issues have been sorted out with both the state governments.
The expansion projects at both the airports have been delayed, and Patel had in May raised the issue with the Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
He said ‘the constant objections’ on the size and scale of the project raised by the commission were responsible for the delay in the project.
Responding to a question on the possibility of a second airport around the national capital, the minister said the matter was with the Group of Ministers (GoM).
‘We are open to having an airport at Jhajjar (in Haryana) or Jhevar (at Great Noida). It all depends on the GoM’s decision,’ he said.
The GoM is looking into the intricacies of the issue, which includes legal and other contractual agreements and obligations the government has with the Delhi International Airport Ltd, which is developing Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Patel said the airport’s new third runway at the IGI airport would start its operations from the month end.
http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/11950.htm
Government approves expansion of Chennai Airport
Government approves expansion of Chennai Airport
The Government gave its approval to the modernisation and expansion of Chennai Airport. The work which is expected to be completed within 26 months of award, will result in an additional passengers handling capacity of 14 million passengers per annum (mppa).
The airport will be upgraded to international standards; the secondary runway will be extended and made suitable for operations of large commercial aircrafts and additional parking space and taxiways to facilitate parking and movement of aircraft will be created.
It may be recalled that in May, 2007, the Committee on Infrastructure headed by the Prime Minister had decided that the Chennai Airport would be developed to international standards by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The Public Investment Board (PIB) approved the AAI’s proposal of the Chennai Airport on 29-Jul-08.
The Chennai Airport is located at an area of approximately 1152 acres with two runways of 3658m and 2085m land. It has separate
International and Domestic terminal buildings with capacity of 3 mppa and 6 mppa respectively. International traffic at the Chennai Airport in 2007-08 was 3.41 million and Domestic traffic was 7.25 million.
Both the terminals are thus, saturated. The Airport has witnessed a growth of 10.7% pa of International traffic and of 24.4% pa growth of Domestic traffic over the last five years. It is estimated that Chennai Airport will further witnessed a combined growth of around 17.13% pa (20% Domestic and 10% International) till up to 2011-12,following which the growth rate is expected to taper to 11.10% pa (12%
Domestic and 8% International) up to 2016-17.
On the basis of these growth projections, the proposal for the Chennai Airport envisages an enhancement of runway capacity, apron capacity and terminal building capacity. The secondary runway is proposed to be extended by 832 m (to make a total runway length of 2917 m) across
A Domestic terminal building to handle 10 mppa is being constructed in addition to the existing Domestic terminal to enable the airport to handle 16 mppa on the Domestic side. The International terminal building is also proposed to be extended to cater to an additional 4 mppa. The airport will thus be able to cater to 7 mppa on the International side. A total of Rs.1077.16 crores is estimated to be spent on the new Domestic terminal, extension of the International terminal and facelift of the existing International and Domestic terminals.
The extended International terminal building is expected to saturate in 2017-18 and the combined Domestic terminal building will saturate in 2012-13. The project completion period is estimated to be 20 months for airside works and 26 months from terminal building works, from the date of award of work.
http://indiaaviation.aero/news/airline/13367/59/Government-approves-expansion-of-Chennai-Airport
The Government gave its approval to the modernisation and expansion of Chennai Airport. The work which is expected to be completed within 26 months of award, will result in an additional passengers handling capacity of 14 million passengers per annum (mppa).
The airport will be upgraded to international standards; the secondary runway will be extended and made suitable for operations of large commercial aircrafts and additional parking space and taxiways to facilitate parking and movement of aircraft will be created.
It may be recalled that in May, 2007, the Committee on Infrastructure headed by the Prime Minister had decided that the Chennai Airport would be developed to international standards by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The Public Investment Board (PIB) approved the AAI’s proposal of the Chennai Airport on 29-Jul-08.
The Chennai Airport is located at an area of approximately 1152 acres with two runways of 3658m and 2085m land. It has separate
International and Domestic terminal buildings with capacity of 3 mppa and 6 mppa respectively. International traffic at the Chennai Airport in 2007-08 was 3.41 million and Domestic traffic was 7.25 million.
Both the terminals are thus, saturated. The Airport has witnessed a growth of 10.7% pa of International traffic and of 24.4% pa growth of Domestic traffic over the last five years. It is estimated that Chennai Airport will further witnessed a combined growth of around 17.13% pa (20% Domestic and 10% International) till up to 2011-12,following which the growth rate is expected to taper to 11.10% pa (12%
Domestic and 8% International) up to 2016-17.
On the basis of these growth projections, the proposal for the Chennai Airport envisages an enhancement of runway capacity, apron capacity and terminal building capacity. The secondary runway is proposed to be extended by 832 m (to make a total runway length of 2917 m) across
A Domestic terminal building to handle 10 mppa is being constructed in addition to the existing Domestic terminal to enable the airport to handle 16 mppa on the Domestic side. The International terminal building is also proposed to be extended to cater to an additional 4 mppa. The airport will thus be able to cater to 7 mppa on the International side. A total of Rs.1077.16 crores is estimated to be spent on the new Domestic terminal, extension of the International terminal and facelift of the existing International and Domestic terminals.
The extended International terminal building is expected to saturate in 2017-18 and the combined Domestic terminal building will saturate in 2012-13. The project completion period is estimated to be 20 months for airside works and 26 months from terminal building works, from the date of award of work.
http://indiaaviation.aero/news/airline/13367/59/Government-approves-expansion-of-Chennai-Airport
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Cabinet approves Kolkata, Chennai airport upgrade
New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Thursday approved the modernisation and expansion of Kolkata and Chennai airports.
The government has set a deadline of 30 months for the Kolkata airport and 26 months for the Chennai airport. The work is expected to start next month.
The development of Kolkata airport will cost Rs.19.42 billion and Chennai Rs.18 billion.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters that the expansion of the Kolkata airport would increase its passenger handling capacity to 20 million fliers a year.
Chennai will have a new passenger capacity of 14 million annually, he said.
The Public Investment Board (PIB) had earlier approved the Kolkata airport upgrade proposal May 30, while Chennai airport moernisation was approved July 29.
Regarding Kolkata, Dasmunsi said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will bear 80 percent of the project cost (Rs.15.54 billion) through internal resources and the balance 20 percent (Rs.3.88 billion) through commercial borrowings.
Similarly, for Chennai airport, AAI will have 80 percent (Rs.14.46 billion) funding through internal resources and 20 percent (Rs.3.61 billion) through commercial borrowings.
AAI has already spent Rs. 320 million and Rs.200 million towards consultancy and other related work for the two airports.
Dasmunsi said the airports will be upgraded to international standards and secondary runways will be extended and made suitable for operations for large commercial aircraft.
Moreover, navigation facilities will be upgraded, additional parking space and taxiways will be created, and road and rail connectivity to the city will be improved, he said.
In April 2007, the Committee on Infrastructure (COI) headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had decided that AAI would develop the Kolkata airport to international standards using its own resources.
The decision on Chennai airport was taken the following month.
Earlier, the PIB had been assured of AAI’s financial performance and its capacity to achieve financial closure for the project through internal resources and borrowing on its own strength and execute the project within the stipulated time.
However, both the projects have been delayed.
Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel raised the issue in a letter to Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
He said it was ‘the constant objections’ of the planning commission on the size and scale of the projects that caused the delay.
http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/11902.htm
The government has set a deadline of 30 months for the Kolkata airport and 26 months for the Chennai airport. The work is expected to start next month.
The development of Kolkata airport will cost Rs.19.42 billion and Chennai Rs.18 billion.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters that the expansion of the Kolkata airport would increase its passenger handling capacity to 20 million fliers a year.
Chennai will have a new passenger capacity of 14 million annually, he said.
The Public Investment Board (PIB) had earlier approved the Kolkata airport upgrade proposal May 30, while Chennai airport moernisation was approved July 29.
Regarding Kolkata, Dasmunsi said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will bear 80 percent of the project cost (Rs.15.54 billion) through internal resources and the balance 20 percent (Rs.3.88 billion) through commercial borrowings.
Similarly, for Chennai airport, AAI will have 80 percent (Rs.14.46 billion) funding through internal resources and 20 percent (Rs.3.61 billion) through commercial borrowings.
AAI has already spent Rs. 320 million and Rs.200 million towards consultancy and other related work for the two airports.
Dasmunsi said the airports will be upgraded to international standards and secondary runways will be extended and made suitable for operations for large commercial aircraft.
Moreover, navigation facilities will be upgraded, additional parking space and taxiways will be created, and road and rail connectivity to the city will be improved, he said.
In April 2007, the Committee on Infrastructure (COI) headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had decided that AAI would develop the Kolkata airport to international standards using its own resources.
The decision on Chennai airport was taken the following month.
Earlier, the PIB had been assured of AAI’s financial performance and its capacity to achieve financial closure for the project through internal resources and borrowing on its own strength and execute the project within the stipulated time.
However, both the projects have been delayed.
Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel raised the issue in a letter to Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
He said it was ‘the constant objections’ of the planning commission on the size and scale of the projects that caused the delay.
http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/11902.htm
Viable project or white elephant?
A. Ranganathan
The Tamil Nadu Government and the Airports Authority of India are going full steam ahead with the Chennai airport expansion plan. While the former seems unaware of the way Chennai airport looked during the monsoon in November 2005, the latter is quoting numbers that are inflated and not based on market forces.
To quote from a recent article in The Wall Street Journal: “Hurt by rising fares, the number of domestic passengers in India rose by only 7 per cent in the 12 months ended April, according to the Airports Authority of India. The growth rate for the previous 12-month period was 31 per cent, and in the 12 months before that, it was 59 per cent. Airlines are cutting routes, idling planes.” Even Mumbai and Delhi, as well as the privately-owned Bangalore and Hyderabad airports, are feeling the heat.
In the early part of this century, when oil was trading at $10, the fare between Mumbai and Delhi was around Rs 9,000 and airlines were making a huge profit. The low-cost carriers came into the picture and brought this down to less than Rs 3,000 and the full-service carriers had to make drastic changes in their fares.
The result is there for everyone to see. You cannot sell cheap tickets to fill up an aircraft and burn costly fuel to fly the passengers to their destinations.
Going by the Wall Street Journal article, it is apparent that projections are made on a single year’s figures, without vision.
Weather conditions and lay of land
Let us analyse the potential for Chennai airport. The airport expansion area is located at a lower level than the main runway and the proposed parallel runway. The main runway elevation is around 13 metres above sea level and the parallel runway will be at an elevation of 11 metres. The current secondary runway is sloped downward from the main runway and it has to cross the Adyar river which has an elevation of 2 metres.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation standards require the runway surface to be at a minimum height of 1 metre over the highest flood level across a water body.
If the secondary runway’s level is not raised sufficiently, it is going to be flooded in any heavy rain condition. It will also mean that aircraft will not be able to reach or use the parallel runway. People have forgotten what happened to Chennai airport during the deluge in 2005.
This becomes a Catch-22 situation. If the AAI does not raise the level of the secondary runway to meet ICAO standards, the secondary runway and the parallel runway will become unusable! If it does raise the level, the cost of the whole project is likely to multiply several times, which has not been budgeted for.
The Chembarambakkam lake overflow is through the Adyar river. If the flow area is restricted by the secondary runway or blocked to a large extent, the flooding on the west, south and south-east areas are going to be extensive.
Growth Projections
The whole programme is based on the inflated growth figures given out by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Unfortunately, the scene has changed completely, with the rise in oil prices. In an article in April, when crude was hovering around $100 a barrel,
I had pointed out that the airlines are not taking the cost of fuel into account and the projections are likely to crumble. Oil prices are not likely to drop below $100 a barrel in the next year or so.
The airline numbers in India are likely to fall below the 50 per cent mark and the traffic potential in Chennai could drop drastically.
All the airlines in India are in consolidation mode. Air Sahara and Air Deccan have been gobbled up. And it may just be a matter of time before the other smaller airlines are taken over by bigger players. The low-cost carrier concept in India is a misnomer.
Except for the snacks and food, there is no difference in operations costs. One has to pay all the charges — import duty, leasing cost, landing charges, etc.
Cost of Expansion
The AAI has stated that 80 per cent of the Chennai Airport expansion cost will be funded from its own kitty and it will borrow from the market the other 20 per cent. The latest monetary policy spelt out by the RBI is going to make this an expensive exercise.
The AAI has also lost a big chunk of its income source from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Even the private players that invested in these airports, based on the inflated traffic projections, are feeling the heat.
There is a question mark as to what will be the recovery period of the high investments. India does not even have a clear cut Civil Aviation policy. It keeps changing, day by day, at the whims and fancies of the Government in place.
Let us take the average aircraft movements in Chennai airport. The AAI pitches for the extension of the secondary runway and the building of the parallel runway, to increase the capacity to 50 movements an hour.
In January 2008, when traffic was at its peak, Chennai had a maximum of 28 movements an hour. This was during the peak hours and for just three hours in a day.
The rest of the day, the average hardly made double digits. It has been pointed out that a traffic capacity of 50 can be achieved with proper air traffic management and efficient ground structure design.
A former senior member of the Airports Authority has stated that Chennai airport, at the present location, is incapable of taking the additional passenger facility for 50 movements in an hour.
So, even if there are runways to cater to aircraft movement, there is not enough space to build the additional infrastructure required to handle all the passengers.
All airlines have cut the frequency of operations. Air travel between Chennai and nearby airports such as Bangalore, Coimbatore and Hyderabad has dropped drastically because of the costs and the time factor.
The door-to-door time taken to travel between Chennai and Bangalore by air takes almost five hours now. The cost has also escalated to almost Rs 6,000, including the taxi fare at both ends.
Train travel, without any hassles of security or baggage allowance, takes just an additional hour and the cost is just a tenth. One can travel very comfortably by the Shatabdi Express for just Rs 600!
Personal egos seem to override logic and reason in Indian aviation. Posterity will tell if the expansion programme of Chennai airport is a viable project or a white elephant.
(The author is an airline captain with 35 years flying experience.)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/08/13/stories/2008081351900900.htm
The Tamil Nadu Government and the Airports Authority of India are going full steam ahead with the Chennai airport expansion plan. While the former seems unaware of the way Chennai airport looked during the monsoon in November 2005, the latter is quoting numbers that are inflated and not based on market forces.
To quote from a recent article in The Wall Street Journal: “Hurt by rising fares, the number of domestic passengers in India rose by only 7 per cent in the 12 months ended April, according to the Airports Authority of India. The growth rate for the previous 12-month period was 31 per cent, and in the 12 months before that, it was 59 per cent. Airlines are cutting routes, idling planes.” Even Mumbai and Delhi, as well as the privately-owned Bangalore and Hyderabad airports, are feeling the heat.
In the early part of this century, when oil was trading at $10, the fare between Mumbai and Delhi was around Rs 9,000 and airlines were making a huge profit. The low-cost carriers came into the picture and brought this down to less than Rs 3,000 and the full-service carriers had to make drastic changes in their fares.
The result is there for everyone to see. You cannot sell cheap tickets to fill up an aircraft and burn costly fuel to fly the passengers to their destinations.
Going by the Wall Street Journal article, it is apparent that projections are made on a single year’s figures, without vision.
Weather conditions and lay of land
Let us analyse the potential for Chennai airport. The airport expansion area is located at a lower level than the main runway and the proposed parallel runway. The main runway elevation is around 13 metres above sea level and the parallel runway will be at an elevation of 11 metres. The current secondary runway is sloped downward from the main runway and it has to cross the Adyar river which has an elevation of 2 metres.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation standards require the runway surface to be at a minimum height of 1 metre over the highest flood level across a water body.
If the secondary runway’s level is not raised sufficiently, it is going to be flooded in any heavy rain condition. It will also mean that aircraft will not be able to reach or use the parallel runway. People have forgotten what happened to Chennai airport during the deluge in 2005.
This becomes a Catch-22 situation. If the AAI does not raise the level of the secondary runway to meet ICAO standards, the secondary runway and the parallel runway will become unusable! If it does raise the level, the cost of the whole project is likely to multiply several times, which has not been budgeted for.
The Chembarambakkam lake overflow is through the Adyar river. If the flow area is restricted by the secondary runway or blocked to a large extent, the flooding on the west, south and south-east areas are going to be extensive.
Growth Projections
The whole programme is based on the inflated growth figures given out by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Unfortunately, the scene has changed completely, with the rise in oil prices. In an article in April, when crude was hovering around $100 a barrel,
I had pointed out that the airlines are not taking the cost of fuel into account and the projections are likely to crumble. Oil prices are not likely to drop below $100 a barrel in the next year or so.
The airline numbers in India are likely to fall below the 50 per cent mark and the traffic potential in Chennai could drop drastically.
All the airlines in India are in consolidation mode. Air Sahara and Air Deccan have been gobbled up. And it may just be a matter of time before the other smaller airlines are taken over by bigger players. The low-cost carrier concept in India is a misnomer.
Except for the snacks and food, there is no difference in operations costs. One has to pay all the charges — import duty, leasing cost, landing charges, etc.
Cost of Expansion
The AAI has stated that 80 per cent of the Chennai Airport expansion cost will be funded from its own kitty and it will borrow from the market the other 20 per cent. The latest monetary policy spelt out by the RBI is going to make this an expensive exercise.
The AAI has also lost a big chunk of its income source from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Even the private players that invested in these airports, based on the inflated traffic projections, are feeling the heat.
There is a question mark as to what will be the recovery period of the high investments. India does not even have a clear cut Civil Aviation policy. It keeps changing, day by day, at the whims and fancies of the Government in place.
Let us take the average aircraft movements in Chennai airport. The AAI pitches for the extension of the secondary runway and the building of the parallel runway, to increase the capacity to 50 movements an hour.
In January 2008, when traffic was at its peak, Chennai had a maximum of 28 movements an hour. This was during the peak hours and for just three hours in a day.
The rest of the day, the average hardly made double digits. It has been pointed out that a traffic capacity of 50 can be achieved with proper air traffic management and efficient ground structure design.
A former senior member of the Airports Authority has stated that Chennai airport, at the present location, is incapable of taking the additional passenger facility for 50 movements in an hour.
So, even if there are runways to cater to aircraft movement, there is not enough space to build the additional infrastructure required to handle all the passengers.
All airlines have cut the frequency of operations. Air travel between Chennai and nearby airports such as Bangalore, Coimbatore and Hyderabad has dropped drastically because of the costs and the time factor.
The door-to-door time taken to travel between Chennai and Bangalore by air takes almost five hours now. The cost has also escalated to almost Rs 6,000, including the taxi fare at both ends.
Train travel, without any hassles of security or baggage allowance, takes just an additional hour and the cost is just a tenth. One can travel very comfortably by the Shatabdi Express for just Rs 600!
Personal egos seem to override logic and reason in Indian aviation. Posterity will tell if the expansion programme of Chennai airport is a viable project or a white elephant.
(The author is an airline captain with 35 years flying experience.)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/08/13/stories/2008081351900900.htm
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Chennai airport upgrade may lag passenger traffic growth
Chennai airport upgrade may lag passenger traffic growth
The Rs 1,808-crore modernisation and expansion plan for Chennai airport, which was recently cleared by the Public Investment Board (PIB) and expected to begin this September, may not be sufficient to cope with projected growth in passenger traffic.
Annual domestic and international capacity at the modernised airport, which will be done by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), is being raised from the current 9 million to 23 million by November 2010. But it is estimated that domestic capacity would be saturated in two years — that is, by 2012.
The modernisation plan includes constructing an additional domestic terminal, which will increase annual capacity from 6 million currently to 16 million, an addition of 10 million. But this capacity will be enough to handle the growth in passenger traffic till 2012, when it will hit around 16 million.
The international terminal will also increase annual handling capacity from 3 million currently to 7 million. This capacity, however, will be enough to handle passengers till 2017-18, when the number of passengers will hit 10 million.
A proposal for a new airport in Sriperumbudur is also unlikely to ease matters. For one, if the approvals come through next year at the earliest, the airport will only be ready by 2014. This will leave a two-year period when passenger traffic will exceed capacity in the domestic terminal.
This rationale was given to the fministry when it asked how the construction of the second airport would impact the first.
“This could be a problem. But we still have the international terminal as a back-up. So if a second airport does not come up by then, we can shift some of the air traffic and airlines to the international terminal,” said an AAI official working on a contingency plan.
The AAi has, however, asked the state government for additional 940 acres of land to build another parallel runway that would increase the saturation life of the airport by another ten years.
It also said that given the land constraints, the terminal area would fail to match international standards or those set by the Delhi airport or the greenfield Hyderabad and Bangalore airports.
The overall unit area of the per peak hour passenger, which means the area one passenger gets at the terminal during peak hours, would come to 16.22 square metres (sq mt) against international standards of 25 sq mt.
On the international side, the numbers are 22.83 sq mt against a global norm of 30 sq mt.
The upgraded Delhi airport will provide peak-hour passengers 36 sq mt, Hyderabad 26 and Bangalore 35.21.
The upgraded Chennai airport will be the first in India to have a runway built over the Adyar a river.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=331273&chkFlg=
The Rs 1,808-crore modernisation and expansion plan for Chennai airport, which was recently cleared by the Public Investment Board (PIB) and expected to begin this September, may not be sufficient to cope with projected growth in passenger traffic.
Annual domestic and international capacity at the modernised airport, which will be done by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), is being raised from the current 9 million to 23 million by November 2010. But it is estimated that domestic capacity would be saturated in two years — that is, by 2012.
The modernisation plan includes constructing an additional domestic terminal, which will increase annual capacity from 6 million currently to 16 million, an addition of 10 million. But this capacity will be enough to handle the growth in passenger traffic till 2012, when it will hit around 16 million.
The international terminal will also increase annual handling capacity from 3 million currently to 7 million. This capacity, however, will be enough to handle passengers till 2017-18, when the number of passengers will hit 10 million.
A proposal for a new airport in Sriperumbudur is also unlikely to ease matters. For one, if the approvals come through next year at the earliest, the airport will only be ready by 2014. This will leave a two-year period when passenger traffic will exceed capacity in the domestic terminal.
This rationale was given to the fministry when it asked how the construction of the second airport would impact the first.
“This could be a problem. But we still have the international terminal as a back-up. So if a second airport does not come up by then, we can shift some of the air traffic and airlines to the international terminal,” said an AAI official working on a contingency plan.
The AAi has, however, asked the state government for additional 940 acres of land to build another parallel runway that would increase the saturation life of the airport by another ten years.
It also said that given the land constraints, the terminal area would fail to match international standards or those set by the Delhi airport or the greenfield Hyderabad and Bangalore airports.
The overall unit area of the per peak hour passenger, which means the area one passenger gets at the terminal during peak hours, would come to 16.22 square metres (sq mt) against international standards of 25 sq mt.
On the international side, the numbers are 22.83 sq mt against a global norm of 30 sq mt.
The upgraded Delhi airport will provide peak-hour passengers 36 sq mt, Hyderabad 26 and Bangalore 35.21.
The upgraded Chennai airport will be the first in India to have a runway built over the Adyar a river.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=331273&chkFlg=
Monday, August 11, 2008
No privatisation of Kolkata, Chennai airport
No privatisation of Kolkata, Chennai airport
Statesman News Service NEW DELHI, Aug. 11: Ruling out privatisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports on the lines of Delhi and Mumbai, the Union civil aviation ministry today said both these airports would be developed by the state-owned Airport Authority of India (AAI).
Announcing this at a meeting with the consultative committee of members of Parliament, the civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel, said the AAI would start the work on these mega projects next month.
The modernisation plans of Kolkata and Chennai airports have been cleared by the Public Investment Board and detailed project reports have already been submitted to the government for approval, Mr Patel said.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is likely to clear these projects by the end of this month. The minister said trial runs on the new third runway of IGI Airport would begin from 21 August.
Once this runway gets operational, it would go a long way to ease the air traffic congestion over Delhi airspace. On the requirement for a second airport in Delhi, Mr Patel said a group of ministers (GoM) was looking into the legalities of setting up of a second airport in Delhi in view of the agreements the government had signed with the GMR-led consortium to modernise IGI Airport.
Some members of the consultative committee raised the issue of construction of an airport at Jhajjar in Haryana, close to the national capital. Some said the ministry should not allow any new airline to be given a licence to launch operations or induction of new aircraft till the required infrastructure was put in place.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=12&theme=&usrsess=1&id=218045
No privatisation of Kolkata, Chennai airport
No privatisation of Kolkata, Chennai airport
Statesman News Service NEW DELHI, Aug. 11: Ruling out privatisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports on the lines of Delhi and Mumbai, the Union civil aviation ministry today said both these airports would be developed by the state-owned Airport Authority of India (AAI).
Announcing this at a meeting with the consultative committee of members of Parliament, the civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel, said the AAI would start the work on these mega projects next month.
The modernisation plans of Kolkata and Chennai airports have been cleared by the Public Investment Board and detailed project reports have already been submitted to the government for approval, Mr Patel said.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is likely to clear these projects by the end of this month. The minister said trial runs on the new third runway of IGI Airport would begin from 21 August.
Once this runway gets operational, it would go a long way to ease the air traffic congestion over Delhi airspace. On the requirement for a second airport in Delhi, Mr Patel said a group of ministers (GoM) was looking into the legalities of setting up of a second airport in Delhi in view of the agreements the government had signed with the GMR-led consortium to modernise IGI Airport.
Some members of the consultative committee raised the issue of construction of an airport at Jhajjar in Haryana, close to the national capital. Some said the ministry should not allow any new airline to be given a licence to launch operations or induction of new aircraft till the required infrastructure was put in place.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=12&theme=&usrsess=1&id=218045
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Contac Human Rights Commission
State Human Rights Commission
Thiruvarangam143,
P.S. Kumarasamy Raja Salai(Greenways Road)
Chennai 600 028, Tamilnadu.
Phone : 91-44-2495 1484
Fax : 91-44-2495 1484
E-mail : shrc@tn.nic.in
Thiruvarangam143,
P.S. Kumarasamy Raja Salai(Greenways Road)
Chennai 600 028, Tamilnadu.
Phone : 91-44-2495 1484
Fax : 91-44-2495 1484
E-mail : shrc@tn.nic.in
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Govt fixes market value for land acquired to expand airport runway
COMPENSATION FINALISED
Govt fixes market value for land acquired to expand airport runway
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai: The state government Nadu has arrived at a market price to hand out compensation for the 126.59 acres of land acquired at Kolapakkam and Manapakkam villages for expansion of the Chennai airport. The land is to be used for the extension of the secondary runway.
The price has been fixed according to four categories of land:
Rs 1,06,000 (per cent) for barren agricultural lands that are level lands, Rs 60,000 (per cent) or Rs 60,00,000 (per acre) for lands where the earth has been excavated for brick-making (low level areas) and
Rs 750 per sq ft or Rs 18 lakh per ground for unapproved layout areas with access to a public road.
Land in the unapproved layout set aside for road and common purposes will not be eligible for compensation, said a press release from the district administration.
District administration officials interacted with the land owners and considered sales data and guideline data in the villages to arrive at the value for land. Those willing to receive the amount can apply to the Special Tashildar (Land Acquisition) Unit, Chennai Airport Scheme, Pattunool Chatram village, Sriperumbudur Taluk, Kancheepuram district in writing.
The should enclose copies of documents like purchase deed, link documents, layout copy, patta, death certificate and legalheirship certificate (in case of death of owner of the land/plot), encumbrance certificate from date of purchase till date and details of court case litigations, if any. The applications received will be scrutinised and the land owners called for a verification of the original documents.
The compensation will be paid after this process is completed.
Applications should reach the office by August 31, 2008, by registered post or in person on any working day during office hours.
The application forms can be obtained from the office of the Special Tashildar (LA) concerned or can be downloaded from the district website: www.kanchi.tn.nic.in/airport
timeschennai@timesgroup.com
www.timesofindia.com
Govt fixes market value for land acquired to expand airport runway
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai: The state government Nadu has arrived at a market price to hand out compensation for the 126.59 acres of land acquired at Kolapakkam and Manapakkam villages for expansion of the Chennai airport. The land is to be used for the extension of the secondary runway.
The price has been fixed according to four categories of land:
Rs 1,06,000 (per cent) for barren agricultural lands that are level lands, Rs 60,000 (per cent) or Rs 60,00,000 (per acre) for lands where the earth has been excavated for brick-making (low level areas) and
Rs 750 per sq ft or Rs 18 lakh per ground for unapproved layout areas with access to a public road.
Land in the unapproved layout set aside for road and common purposes will not be eligible for compensation, said a press release from the district administration.
District administration officials interacted with the land owners and considered sales data and guideline data in the villages to arrive at the value for land. Those willing to receive the amount can apply to the Special Tashildar (Land Acquisition) Unit, Chennai Airport Scheme, Pattunool Chatram village, Sriperumbudur Taluk, Kancheepuram district in writing.
The should enclose copies of documents like purchase deed, link documents, layout copy, patta, death certificate and legalheirship certificate (in case of death of owner of the land/plot), encumbrance certificate from date of purchase till date and details of court case litigations, if any. The applications received will be scrutinised and the land owners called for a verification of the original documents.
The compensation will be paid after this process is completed.
Applications should reach the office by August 31, 2008, by registered post or in person on any working day during office hours.
The application forms can be obtained from the office of the Special Tashildar (LA) concerned or can be downloaded from the district website: www.kanchi.tn.nic.in/airport
timeschennai@timesgroup.com
www.timesofindia.com
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
PIB approves Chennai airport expansion plan
NEW DELHI: The Public Investment Board (PIB) on Tuesday cleared the expansion and modernisation plans for the Chennai airport. Work on upgradation of the airport is expected to start in September 2008.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will invest Rs 1,808 crore to complete the project by October 2010. AAI will invest 80% of the required capital through internal resources, with remaining 20% coming from commercial borrowings. According to a statement issued here by the civil aviation ministry, the project funding does not include any user development fee (UDF) from passengers or budgetary support from the government.
The government in 2007 decided that the Chennai airport would not be privatised and AAI would develop it. The expansion work of the airport includes enhancement of runway capacity, apron capacity and terminal building capacity.
“The state government has handed over about 130 acres to the AAI for the development of the secondary runway. Land has also been made available by the defence authorities,” the statement said.
The existing domestic and international terminals have an annual capacity of handling 6 million and 3 million passengers, respectively. According to AAI’s master plan, the new domestic terminal would have an additional capacity of 10 million. An additional capacity of 4 million is being added to the international terminal.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Transportation/PIB_approves_Chennai_airport_expansion_plan/articleshow/3303273.cms
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will invest Rs 1,808 crore to complete the project by October 2010. AAI will invest 80% of the required capital through internal resources, with remaining 20% coming from commercial borrowings. According to a statement issued here by the civil aviation ministry, the project funding does not include any user development fee (UDF) from passengers or budgetary support from the government.
The government in 2007 decided that the Chennai airport would not be privatised and AAI would develop it. The expansion work of the airport includes enhancement of runway capacity, apron capacity and terminal building capacity.
“The state government has handed over about 130 acres to the AAI for the development of the secondary runway. Land has also been made available by the defence authorities,” the statement said.
The existing domestic and international terminals have an annual capacity of handling 6 million and 3 million passengers, respectively. According to AAI’s master plan, the new domestic terminal would have an additional capacity of 10 million. An additional capacity of 4 million is being added to the international terminal.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Transportation/PIB_approves_Chennai_airport_expansion_plan/articleshow/3303273.cms
Chennai Airport Development plans get PIB clearance
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Chennai Airport Development plans get PIB clearance
17:17 IST
The development plans of Chennai Airport got the clearance of the Public Investment Board (PIB) today. It will now have to be approved by the Government (CCEA approval). The work is expected to begin by September 2008.
It may be recalled that in April, 2007, the Government decided that the Chennai Airport would be developed to international standards by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI has developed a master plan and design of terminals through Global Architectural Design Competition. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) has approved the development plans. The plans focus on the enhancement of runway capacity, apron capacity and terminal building capacity.
The State Government has handed over about 130 acres of land to the AAI for the development of the secondary runway. Land has also been made available by the Defence Authorities. A meeting chaired by the Defence Minister was held on 24 July, 2008, where it was decided to hand over 21 acres of Defence land to the AAI for the expansion of the airport. The Expert Committee on Infrastructural development is expected to give the environmental clearance of the project very soon.
The existing International Terminal at the Chennai Airport has a capacity of 3 million passengers and existing Domestic Terminal has a capacity of 6 million passengers. Additional capacity of 4 million is being added to the International Terminal to enhance its capacity to 7 million passengers.
A new Domestic Terminal is being built with capacity of 10 million in addition to the existing Domestic Terminal, to augment the capacity of the Domestic Terminal to 16 million. The construction and development work is expected to be completed by October 2010. The total cost of the project is envisaged to be Rs.1808.10 crores of which approximately Rs.1077.16 crores will be required for the new Domestic Terminal building and for the modernization/extension of the International Terminal and the Face Lifting of the existing International and Domestic Terminals. 80% of the project will be funded through internal resources of the AAI and 20% through commercial borrowings. No User Development Fee (UDF) or budgetary support is envisaged for this project.
The upgraded International Terminal building, which will be able cater to 7 million passengers a year, will have a peak hour capacity of about 4450 passengers, 109 check in counters, 35 immigration counters for departure and 39 for arrival, 8 customs counters for departure and 26 for arrival, 8 conveyor belts and 8 aerobridges.
This Terminal is expected to be saturated in 2017-18. The Domestic Passenger Terminals which will be able to cater to 16 million passengers annually will have a peak hour capacity of about 5360 passengers, 99 check in counters, 10 conveyor belts, 9 aerobridges and is expected to be saturated by 2012-13.
The Pre-Engineering and Pre-Qualification of the project have been completed. As per present estimates, work is expected to commence in September, 2008. Construction of Runway, Taxiway, Parking Bays is expected to be completed in 20 months and the Terminal Buildings in 26 months. Thus, the Runway, Taxiway, Parking Bays scheduled to be completed by April, 2010 and the Terminal Buildings by October, 2010.
PHP Peak Hour Passenger
MPPA Million Passengers Per Annum
MC/MK
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=40798
Chennai Airport Development plans get PIB clearance
17:17 IST
The development plans of Chennai Airport got the clearance of the Public Investment Board (PIB) today. It will now have to be approved by the Government (CCEA approval). The work is expected to begin by September 2008.
It may be recalled that in April, 2007, the Government decided that the Chennai Airport would be developed to international standards by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI has developed a master plan and design of terminals through Global Architectural Design Competition. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) has approved the development plans. The plans focus on the enhancement of runway capacity, apron capacity and terminal building capacity.
The State Government has handed over about 130 acres of land to the AAI for the development of the secondary runway. Land has also been made available by the Defence Authorities. A meeting chaired by the Defence Minister was held on 24 July, 2008, where it was decided to hand over 21 acres of Defence land to the AAI for the expansion of the airport. The Expert Committee on Infrastructural development is expected to give the environmental clearance of the project very soon.
The existing International Terminal at the Chennai Airport has a capacity of 3 million passengers and existing Domestic Terminal has a capacity of 6 million passengers. Additional capacity of 4 million is being added to the International Terminal to enhance its capacity to 7 million passengers.
A new Domestic Terminal is being built with capacity of 10 million in addition to the existing Domestic Terminal, to augment the capacity of the Domestic Terminal to 16 million. The construction and development work is expected to be completed by October 2010. The total cost of the project is envisaged to be Rs.1808.10 crores of which approximately Rs.1077.16 crores will be required for the new Domestic Terminal building and for the modernization/extension of the International Terminal and the Face Lifting of the existing International and Domestic Terminals. 80% of the project will be funded through internal resources of the AAI and 20% through commercial borrowings. No User Development Fee (UDF) or budgetary support is envisaged for this project.
The upgraded International Terminal building, which will be able cater to 7 million passengers a year, will have a peak hour capacity of about 4450 passengers, 109 check in counters, 35 immigration counters for departure and 39 for arrival, 8 customs counters for departure and 26 for arrival, 8 conveyor belts and 8 aerobridges.
This Terminal is expected to be saturated in 2017-18. The Domestic Passenger Terminals which will be able to cater to 16 million passengers annually will have a peak hour capacity of about 5360 passengers, 99 check in counters, 10 conveyor belts, 9 aerobridges and is expected to be saturated by 2012-13.
The Pre-Engineering and Pre-Qualification of the project have been completed. As per present estimates, work is expected to commence in September, 2008. Construction of Runway, Taxiway, Parking Bays is expected to be completed in 20 months and the Terminal Buildings in 26 months. Thus, the Runway, Taxiway, Parking Bays scheduled to be completed by April, 2010 and the Terminal Buildings by October, 2010.
PHP Peak Hour Passenger
MPPA Million Passengers Per Annum
MC/MK
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=40798
Monday, July 28, 2008
State govt transfers land for secondary runway extension
State govt transfers land for secondary runway extension
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai: The state government handed over 130 acres of land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to extend the secondary runway, on Monday.
The AAI will soon start fencing the land prior to starting preparatory work.
The land comprising ‘poromboke’ land and some vacant land acquired from panchayats was surveyed and marked in the presence of officials from the AAI and the revenue department.
An AAI senior officer said that they had drawn up a schedule for carrying out the work. “This will be followed strictly once all formalities are over. The boundaries of the land have been marked and it will soon be fenced.
Later, it will be levelled and graded to make it ready for construction work. Once, this is done the AAI will follow the construction schedule,” he added.
Meanwhile, residents of Kolapakkam panchayat from where a good portion of the land had been acquired, criticised the state government for handing over the land without clearing compensation.
“We are yet to get details of compensation from the state government,” said Mannivannan, a resident.
Residents who opposed the airport expansion project questioned how the AAI could start acquiring the land without getting environment clearance for the extension of the secondary runway.
“We have not fixed any timeframe to start construction works. The environment clearance is yet to come,” airport director Dinesh Kumar said.
www.timesofindia.com
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai: The state government handed over 130 acres of land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to extend the secondary runway, on Monday.
The AAI will soon start fencing the land prior to starting preparatory work.
The land comprising ‘poromboke’ land and some vacant land acquired from panchayats was surveyed and marked in the presence of officials from the AAI and the revenue department.
An AAI senior officer said that they had drawn up a schedule for carrying out the work. “This will be followed strictly once all formalities are over. The boundaries of the land have been marked and it will soon be fenced.
Later, it will be levelled and graded to make it ready for construction work. Once, this is done the AAI will follow the construction schedule,” he added.
Meanwhile, residents of Kolapakkam panchayat from where a good portion of the land had been acquired, criticised the state government for handing over the land without clearing compensation.
“We are yet to get details of compensation from the state government,” said Mannivannan, a resident.
Residents who opposed the airport expansion project questioned how the AAI could start acquiring the land without getting environment clearance for the extension of the secondary runway.
“We have not fixed any timeframe to start construction works. The environment clearance is yet to come,” airport director Dinesh Kumar said.
www.timesofindia.com
Chennai airport uplift gets wings
Barely a month after the Supreme Court upheld the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to acquire land for the much-awaited expansion and modernisation of the Chennai airport, the Rs 2,700-crore project is likely to be taken up by the public investment board (PIB) for consideration on Tuesday.
Government sources said the airport project has been delayed due to pressure from the Left parties who were allies to the government apart from the niggling land acquisition problems.
The project will in all probability be implemented by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) despite the ministry’s earlier stance of a private bidder carrying out the project. “The process of issuing a tender and carrying out a bidding process will take too long which is not good for a project that has already been delayed by more than six months,” an official from the ministry of civil aviation said.
According to AAI’s plans, the acquired land will be used to construct a second runway, parallel to the existing 12,000-feet main runway, and extend the existing 6,500-foot cross runway. This would enhance the airports handling capacity to 50 flights an hour and allow it to meet the demands of air traffic until at least 2016. The Chennai airport can currently handle 28 aircraft movements an hour.
The project proposal, once cleared by the PIB, will be circulated among the various departments and ministries of the government before coming up for the Cabinet clearance. “The proposal should be in front of the Cabinet within the next one month while the Kolkata airport is expected to be cleared by next week,” a civil aviation ministry source said.
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Chennai-airport-uplift-gets-wings/341699/
Government sources said the airport project has been delayed due to pressure from the Left parties who were allies to the government apart from the niggling land acquisition problems.
The project will in all probability be implemented by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) despite the ministry’s earlier stance of a private bidder carrying out the project. “The process of issuing a tender and carrying out a bidding process will take too long which is not good for a project that has already been delayed by more than six months,” an official from the ministry of civil aviation said.
According to AAI’s plans, the acquired land will be used to construct a second runway, parallel to the existing 12,000-feet main runway, and extend the existing 6,500-foot cross runway. This would enhance the airports handling capacity to 50 flights an hour and allow it to meet the demands of air traffic until at least 2016. The Chennai airport can currently handle 28 aircraft movements an hour.
The project proposal, once cleared by the PIB, will be circulated among the various departments and ministries of the government before coming up for the Cabinet clearance. “The proposal should be in front of the Cabinet within the next one month while the Kolkata airport is expected to be cleared by next week,” a civil aviation ministry source said.
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Chennai-airport-uplift-gets-wings/341699/
Monday, July 21, 2008
Runway extension yet to get ministry nod
Runway extension yet to get ministry nod
CHENNAI: The state government is all set to hand over land for extension of the secondary runway at Chennai airport, but Airports Authority of India (AAI) is still awaiting the mandatory environment clearance from the union government.
The government has decided to hand over 130 acres by this month-end for extending the existing secondary runway by 1,400 metres. The AAI is also planning to kickstart preparatory work for the construction by the first week of next month.
However, there is still no sign of clearance from the union ministry of environment though the state revenue department and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) held a public hearing last month and sent a report of the proceedings to the ministry.
"We are yet to receive environment clearance for the project which will help enhance aircraft handling capacity of the airport," airport director Dinesh Kumar said.
Meanwhile, the state government is ready to transfer the land to AAI as per schedule. "We will be handing over 130 acres acquired for the extension of the secondary runway by the end of this month," transport secretary Debendranath Sarangi said.
With only 10 more days to go for land transfer, the Airports Authority of India would need clearance from the union government before it could float tenders for preparatory works. Residents had been opposing the extension of the existing runway, saying it would curb the flow of Adyar river that runs through the airport land.
"The extension of the secondary runway will complicate the situation and will cause more floods in localities close to the airport. Excess water from Chemparampakkam river is let out into Adyar during the rains, causing floods on airport land every year," said Brinda Brighton, a resident of Manapakkam.
Construction work worth Rs 100 crore or more should not be carried out near a water body, residents of Manapakkam had pointed out during the public hearing on June 12, while opposing the project.
Sarangi said that priority was being given to the secondary runway, "but the proposed parallel runway (see graphic) will be taken up only in the next phase, as it is included as part of the larger expansion plan of the airport. The state government will sort out problems in acquiring land for the new runway."
The Supreme Court had dismissed petitions filed by the residents and also a builder challenging the Madras High Court verdict, thus clearing land acquisition for construction of a parallel runway.
TNPCB officials said that there would not be any hassle in obtaining environmental clearance for the secondary runway project because the runway was a non-industrial construction.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/Runway_extension_yet_to_get_ministry_nod/articleshow/3261667.cms
CHENNAI: The state government is all set to hand over land for extension of the secondary runway at Chennai airport, but Airports Authority of India (AAI) is still awaiting the mandatory environment clearance from the union government.
The government has decided to hand over 130 acres by this month-end for extending the existing secondary runway by 1,400 metres. The AAI is also planning to kickstart preparatory work for the construction by the first week of next month.
However, there is still no sign of clearance from the union ministry of environment though the state revenue department and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) held a public hearing last month and sent a report of the proceedings to the ministry.
"We are yet to receive environment clearance for the project which will help enhance aircraft handling capacity of the airport," airport director Dinesh Kumar said.
Meanwhile, the state government is ready to transfer the land to AAI as per schedule. "We will be handing over 130 acres acquired for the extension of the secondary runway by the end of this month," transport secretary Debendranath Sarangi said.
With only 10 more days to go for land transfer, the Airports Authority of India would need clearance from the union government before it could float tenders for preparatory works. Residents had been opposing the extension of the existing runway, saying it would curb the flow of Adyar river that runs through the airport land.
"The extension of the secondary runway will complicate the situation and will cause more floods in localities close to the airport. Excess water from Chemparampakkam river is let out into Adyar during the rains, causing floods on airport land every year," said Brinda Brighton, a resident of Manapakkam.
Construction work worth Rs 100 crore or more should not be carried out near a water body, residents of Manapakkam had pointed out during the public hearing on June 12, while opposing the project.
Sarangi said that priority was being given to the secondary runway, "but the proposed parallel runway (see graphic) will be taken up only in the next phase, as it is included as part of the larger expansion plan of the airport. The state government will sort out problems in acquiring land for the new runway."
The Supreme Court had dismissed petitions filed by the residents and also a builder challenging the Madras High Court verdict, thus clearing land acquisition for construction of a parallel runway.
TNPCB officials said that there would not be any hassle in obtaining environmental clearance for the secondary runway project because the runway was a non-industrial construction.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/Runway_extension_yet_to_get_ministry_nod/articleshow/3261667.cms
Friday, July 18, 2008
Land for Chennai airport expansion to be handed over soon
Land for Chennai airport expansion to be handed over soon
The first phase involves extending the secondary runway and building a second terminal. The project is being implemented by the AAI.
Chennai, July 10 The Tamil Nadu Government will hand over 130 acres of land near Chennai airport, to be used for the airport’s expansion, by the end of this month, the State’s Chief Secretary, Mr L.K. Tripathy, told Business Line.
He said the Government is also acquiring land for the second runway (which will be taken up in the second phase of the project.)
Mr Dinesh Kumar, Airport Director, Chennai airport, said that the Rs 1,800-crore project would be completed in 28 months. “We are ready with the tenders,” he said.
The first phase involves extending the secondary runway and building a second terminal. The project is being implemented by the Airports Authority of India.It is expected that upon completion, the airport would be able to handle 50 per cent more number of flights.
Today, it handles 350 flights a day, Mr Kumar said.
A second runway — parallel to the existing one — will come up in the second phase of the project. Phase-II will need 1,069 acres of land.
Mr Tripathy said there would be no issues in acquiring the required lands. The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by a developer of residential colonies challenging the acquisition of lands for expansion of the airport. In doing this, the apex court upheld a decision of the Madras High Court.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/07/11/stories/2008071152210700.htm
The first phase involves extending the secondary runway and building a second terminal. The project is being implemented by the AAI.
Chennai, July 10 The Tamil Nadu Government will hand over 130 acres of land near Chennai airport, to be used for the airport’s expansion, by the end of this month, the State’s Chief Secretary, Mr L.K. Tripathy, told Business Line.
He said the Government is also acquiring land for the second runway (which will be taken up in the second phase of the project.)
Mr Dinesh Kumar, Airport Director, Chennai airport, said that the Rs 1,800-crore project would be completed in 28 months. “We are ready with the tenders,” he said.
The first phase involves extending the secondary runway and building a second terminal. The project is being implemented by the Airports Authority of India.It is expected that upon completion, the airport would be able to handle 50 per cent more number of flights.
Today, it handles 350 flights a day, Mr Kumar said.
A second runway — parallel to the existing one — will come up in the second phase of the project. Phase-II will need 1,069 acres of land.
Mr Tripathy said there would be no issues in acquiring the required lands. The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by a developer of residential colonies challenging the acquisition of lands for expansion of the airport. In doing this, the apex court upheld a decision of the Madras High Court.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/07/11/stories/2008071152210700.htm
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
130 acres for secondary runway expansion
130 acres for secondary runway expansion
CHENNAI: The State government has issued an order allotting 130.60 acres to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the expansion of the secondary runway at the Chennai airport.
AAI officials said the secondary runway expansion was part of the overall expansion programme that includes construction of new terminals, taxiways, aerobridges and a parallel runway. These projects would be taken up at a total cost of Rs. 1,808 crore. The Centre had sanctioned the sum.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/02/stories/2008070252860500.htm
CHENNAI: The State government has issued an order allotting 130.60 acres to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the expansion of the secondary runway at the Chennai airport.
AAI officials said the secondary runway expansion was part of the overall expansion programme that includes construction of new terminals, taxiways, aerobridges and a parallel runway. These projects would be taken up at a total cost of Rs. 1,808 crore. The Centre had sanctioned the sum.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/02/stories/2008070252860500.htm
Friday, June 27, 2008
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Chennai’s Anna International Airport, to commence work on second domestic terminal within two months
Chennai’s Anna International Airport, to commence work on second domestic terminal within two months
Residents oppose expansion of existing airport
Chennai’s Anna International Airport, will commence work on the construction of the second domestic terminal, within the next two months and is expected to be completed in 28 months. “It will have two-level terminals with departure area on first floor and arrival area on ground floor covering 67,000 sq. meters.
It will also have three aerobridges, Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) terminals and other state-of-the-art facilities,” informed Dinesh Kumar, Airport Director, Chennai International Airport. Further, an aerobridge will be added to the international arrival terminal, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Apart from this, four aerobridges will be constructed in both, domestic and international terminals.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to invest Rs 1,800 crore, for extending the second runway of the existing airport and overall expansion.
The Government of Tamil Nadu is still in the process of acquiring land for this extension, partly owing to protests from residents, whose lands are within the area set aside for acquisition.
According to the residents, expansion of the airport will cause floods during rainy season.
Excess water from the Chembarampakkam Lake (which is seven km near the proposed site) that is let out into the Adyar River causes floods in the airport land every year. The extension of the second runway across the Adyar River is expected to cause more floods in localities close to the airport.
According to official sources, from an annual growth rate of 11 per cent in 2001-2002, passenger movement in Chennai has shot up to 51 per cent in 2006-2007. The international passenger traffic handled by Chennai airport in 2006-07 was 2.80 million compared to 2.60 million in 2005-06.
http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid=3098&sid=36
Residents oppose expansion of existing airport
Chennai’s Anna International Airport, will commence work on the construction of the second domestic terminal, within the next two months and is expected to be completed in 28 months. “It will have two-level terminals with departure area on first floor and arrival area on ground floor covering 67,000 sq. meters.
It will also have three aerobridges, Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) terminals and other state-of-the-art facilities,” informed Dinesh Kumar, Airport Director, Chennai International Airport. Further, an aerobridge will be added to the international arrival terminal, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Apart from this, four aerobridges will be constructed in both, domestic and international terminals.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to invest Rs 1,800 crore, for extending the second runway of the existing airport and overall expansion.
The Government of Tamil Nadu is still in the process of acquiring land for this extension, partly owing to protests from residents, whose lands are within the area set aside for acquisition.
According to the residents, expansion of the airport will cause floods during rainy season.
Excess water from the Chembarampakkam Lake (which is seven km near the proposed site) that is let out into the Adyar River causes floods in the airport land every year. The extension of the second runway across the Adyar River is expected to cause more floods in localities close to the airport.
According to official sources, from an annual growth rate of 11 per cent in 2001-2002, passenger movement in Chennai has shot up to 51 per cent in 2006-2007. The international passenger traffic handled by Chennai airport in 2006-07 was 2.80 million compared to 2.60 million in 2005-06.
http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid=3098&sid=36
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Two airports can make flying risky
CHENNAI: The proposed greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur may not complement but be an impediment to the functioning of the existing Chennai airport. The new airport, planned on 4,823 acres of land at Sunguvarchathiram in Sriperumbudur and Tiruvallur taluks, will lie on the air-corridor and on one of the designated holdover areas for aircraft approaching the current airport at Meenambakkam.
Though the government is going all out with the greenfield project, experts including pilots, air traffic controllers and officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI) are worried that its proximity to the existing airport will restrict the already congested airspace if both airports are used simultaneously.
The location of the proposed greenfield airport is close to the air corridor used by flights taking off and landing on the Pallavaram side of the primary runway of the existing airport. So if the two airports are going to be operational simultaneously, the efficiency of both will be crippled. This is because the Chennai airspace is already restricted by the presence of two limited flying areas - Tambaram, belonging to Indian Air Force, and Arakkonam, belonging to the Indian Navy.
"A new airport just 15 nautical miles away (state government says the distance is 25 nautical miles) from the Pallavaram end of the existing airport will provide minimal space to aircraft for manoeuvre," a senior AAI official said. Some officials are not ruling out the closure of the existing airport once the much larger and modern airport is commissioned. Though specific studies are yet to be carried out, the operations wing of AAI seems to have expressed their scepticism about the project, which means that the greenfield airport could be commissioned only at the cost of the existing airport - something that goes against the government announcement that the greenfield and the expanded Meenambakkam airports would function simultaneously.
Aircraft making their final approach to the existing airport have to be at a height of 1,800 ft to detect signals from the Instrument Landing System. Considering that almost all aircraft land in the city from the northwest or southwest, they would be flying low over Sriperumbudur, which is just 15 nautical miles away. Aircraft taking off from the primary runway will also fly over Sriperumbudur at a height of 3,500 ft before turning towards their destinations. "Once the new airport opens, the existing airport may not be able to use its 11,399-feet primary runway," said a pilot.
Operations at Meenambakkam airport will be further crippled because the restricted airspace over Tambaram and Arakkonam - where defence aircraft fly at 2,500 ft - is not available for use most of the time.
"In other words, the current airport will have to be shut down for safe, smooth and efficient operation of the greenfield airport," said Captain A Ranganathan, a retired pilot. He said the aircraft landing at the greenfield airport might also face the risk of being hit when migratory birds start arriving at Vedanthangal. "I don’t know if the environment ministry will give clearance," he added.
When contacted, K Ramalingam, chairman, AAI, said it was too early to discuss feasibility of having two airports as comprehensive studies were yet to be carried out.
Captain Vijay Kumar, secretary of Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association, said simultaneous operations of two airports would be difficult but not impossible. Abroad, there are cases of airports existing close by, but operations are handled in such a way that they do not clash, he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/Two_airports_can_make_flying_risky/articleshow/3128160.cms
Though the government is going all out with the greenfield project, experts including pilots, air traffic controllers and officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI) are worried that its proximity to the existing airport will restrict the already congested airspace if both airports are used simultaneously.
The location of the proposed greenfield airport is close to the air corridor used by flights taking off and landing on the Pallavaram side of the primary runway of the existing airport. So if the two airports are going to be operational simultaneously, the efficiency of both will be crippled. This is because the Chennai airspace is already restricted by the presence of two limited flying areas - Tambaram, belonging to Indian Air Force, and Arakkonam, belonging to the Indian Navy.
"A new airport just 15 nautical miles away (state government says the distance is 25 nautical miles) from the Pallavaram end of the existing airport will provide minimal space to aircraft for manoeuvre," a senior AAI official said. Some officials are not ruling out the closure of the existing airport once the much larger and modern airport is commissioned. Though specific studies are yet to be carried out, the operations wing of AAI seems to have expressed their scepticism about the project, which means that the greenfield airport could be commissioned only at the cost of the existing airport - something that goes against the government announcement that the greenfield and the expanded Meenambakkam airports would function simultaneously.
Aircraft making their final approach to the existing airport have to be at a height of 1,800 ft to detect signals from the Instrument Landing System. Considering that almost all aircraft land in the city from the northwest or southwest, they would be flying low over Sriperumbudur, which is just 15 nautical miles away. Aircraft taking off from the primary runway will also fly over Sriperumbudur at a height of 3,500 ft before turning towards their destinations. "Once the new airport opens, the existing airport may not be able to use its 11,399-feet primary runway," said a pilot.
Operations at Meenambakkam airport will be further crippled because the restricted airspace over Tambaram and Arakkonam - where defence aircraft fly at 2,500 ft - is not available for use most of the time.
"In other words, the current airport will have to be shut down for safe, smooth and efficient operation of the greenfield airport," said Captain A Ranganathan, a retired pilot. He said the aircraft landing at the greenfield airport might also face the risk of being hit when migratory birds start arriving at Vedanthangal. "I don’t know if the environment ministry will give clearance," he added.
When contacted, K Ramalingam, chairman, AAI, said it was too early to discuss feasibility of having two airports as comprehensive studies were yet to be carried out.
Captain Vijay Kumar, secretary of Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association, said simultaneous operations of two airports would be difficult but not impossible. Abroad, there are cases of airports existing close by, but operations are handled in such a way that they do not clash, he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/Two_airports_can_make_flying_risky/articleshow/3128160.cms
Sriperambudur airport set for early take-off
New Delhi, June 12: Chennai's proposed greenfield airport is set for an early start, with the Tamil Nadu Government on Thursday making it clear that it would not be able to assure the Centre on the availability of land for the Phase II expansion of the existing airport at Meenambakkam.
According to sources, the Chennai airport’s capacity will be saturated by 2015-16 if the Phase II expansion for upgrading the existing infrastructure does not come through. The only option available to the Centre would be to expedite the process to build the greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur approximately 40 km from Chennai to meet passenger demand. The matter was brought up at a meeting between the Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry of Civil Aviation while reviewing the projects.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is already on the job with a techno-feasibility study done for the new airport and will soon get the reports of a study by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“Soon after the ICAO study is with AAI, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared and with Government clearance land will be acquired for the greenfield airport. While a sort of go-ahead to expedite work on this project has come from the Cabinet Secretariat today, a formal clearance is also likely to follow soon”, said a senior official from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The initial phase of the new airport will cost more than Rs 5,000 crore, say
sources.
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/322157.html
According to sources, the Chennai airport’s capacity will be saturated by 2015-16 if the Phase II expansion for upgrading the existing infrastructure does not come through. The only option available to the Centre would be to expedite the process to build the greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur approximately 40 km from Chennai to meet passenger demand. The matter was brought up at a meeting between the Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry of Civil Aviation while reviewing the projects.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is already on the job with a techno-feasibility study done for the new airport and will soon get the reports of a study by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“Soon after the ICAO study is with AAI, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared and with Government clearance land will be acquired for the greenfield airport. While a sort of go-ahead to expedite work on this project has come from the Cabinet Secretariat today, a formal clearance is also likely to follow soon”, said a senior official from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The initial phase of the new airport will cost more than Rs 5,000 crore, say
sources.
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/322157.html
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Centre allots Rs 1800 crore for construction of 2nd terminal in Chennai
CHENNAI: The Centre has allocated Rs 1,800 crore for construction of a second domestic terminal and extension of second runway at Chennai Airport.
"Around Rs 1,800 crore have been earmarked for the construction of second domestic terminal along with the extension of second runway" Airport Director Dinesh Kumar, told PTI here today.
The new terminal will help in managing the increasing passenger traffic in the domestic sector, he said adding the construction work was expected to start in one or two months.
Airport sources said construction of an aerobridge was currently underway. Around four aerobridges are being constructed in both domestic as well as in the international terminal. As far as the new domestic terminal was concerned, it will have a departure terminal on top floor and the arrival terminal on the ground floor as there is only one entrance and exit point for passengers in the international terminal, they said.
Modernized parking bays for flights are also expected to be constructed on the second runway, the sources added.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Centre_allots_Rs_1800_crore_for_construction_of_2nd_terminal_in_Chennai/articleshow/3121193.cms
"Around Rs 1,800 crore have been earmarked for the construction of second domestic terminal along with the extension of second runway" Airport Director Dinesh Kumar, told PTI here today.
The new terminal will help in managing the increasing passenger traffic in the domestic sector, he said adding the construction work was expected to start in one or two months.
Airport sources said construction of an aerobridge was currently underway. Around four aerobridges are being constructed in both domestic as well as in the international terminal. As far as the new domestic terminal was concerned, it will have a departure terminal on top floor and the arrival terminal on the ground floor as there is only one entrance and exit point for passengers in the international terminal, they said.
Modernized parking bays for flights are also expected to be constructed on the second runway, the sources added.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Centre_allots_Rs_1800_crore_for_construction_of_2nd_terminal_in_Chennai/articleshow/3121193.cms
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