The new domestic terminal at the Chennai airport will be operationalised after August 15, V.P. Agrawal, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), said here on Wednesday.
Talking to reporters after inspecting the various facilities at the new terminal building, Mr Agrawal said “all the works have been completed and the terminal will be fully ready before August 15. The inauguration date will be announced depending upon the availability of the appointments of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa,” he said.
Makeshift arrangements would be made in the new terminal for facilities such as eateries and restaurants. Once everything is ready, global brands would be invited to open their outlets, he said. The AAI has planned a trial run for the new international terminal next week. There was a manpower problem. Customs and Immigration departments and the Central Industrial Security Force had to post additional personnel. The AAI was in touch with Union Home and Finance Ministries.
Answering a query on the introduction of Private Public Partnership (PPP) for the new terminals, Mr. Agrawal said the AAI did not want the PPP mode operation for both Chennai and Kolkata airports. Instead, the AAI was looking at a joint venture management contract, under which the AAI would hold 51 per cent and the rest would be with the private player.
Recently, the Chennai airport was chosen ‘Airport of the Year’ for 2012 for cargo handling. This is the third consecutive time the award was bagged by the airport.
Initially AAI and state Govt announced 1063 acres for chennai airport expansion plan. Later, the Original plan got changed many times according to AAI convenience for the past 5 years. Now acquired only 128+ acres and yet to announce the opening date for Domestic and International terminal. Very poor planning and no proper ground work done by AAI and stare Govt before they issue notice to the affected people of Kolapakkam, Manapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharapakkam. I am one of the affected individual, purchased a plot in EVP Town, Tharapakkam in the year 2006. I have started construction immediately and availed huge loan from HDFC bank but unfortunately I got notice from the State Govt in the year June-2007 that my plot is marked for chennai airport expansion plan. Like me, there are 250+ people who affected and availed loan from banks with partialy constructed buildings. We are bound to pay the huge EMI to the banks every month without knowing the property belong to us or not.
For once, can we not do without inaugration by PM or other politicians. Let it be inaugrated by a labourer who helped build it, or by the student who topped the 12th grade exam. in Tamil Nadu state, or by the senior most air traffic controller at Chennai. My personal vote is for the blind or otherwise disabled student who got max. marks in the high school, or equivalent, exam. of Tamil Nadu.
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