There is good news for the business community and frequent fliers from the Pearl city. The district administration has handed over 366.24 acres of patta land acquired as per the Land Acquisition Act to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials here on Friday.
Collector N. Venkatesh said in a press release that a total of 600.93 acres had been identified for the expansion of Vagaikulam airport from adjoining villages including Kumaragiri, Kattalangulam, Mudivaithanendal and Servaikaranmadam.
Following representations from trade and industry to earmark more land for the airport expansion project, the district administration had posted a Tahsildar exclusively for land acquisition.
After expansion, the airport can receive not only bigger aircraft with ease, but also get more space for car parking and other amenities.
The district administration had planned acquisition of 600 acres in 13 blocks for administrative convenience, revenue officials said.
On Friday, land measuring to the extent of 366.24 acres from as many as seven blocks had been acquired and on completion of the process, it was handed over to the Thoothukudi Airport Director Subramanian.
The acquisition of remaining land was under way in different stages and the district administration would soon hand them over to the Airport Authority of India, said DRO M. Veerappan.
The business community, including the All India Chamber of Commerce and other frequent fliers in the city have welcomed the progress as a positive development towards growth. The AAI had already assured all stakeholders to begin work as and when the required land was handed over, officials said.
