After nearly nine months of work, the resurfacing of the main runway of Chennai airport is likely to be completed next month. This procedure, carried out at a cost of Rs. 40 crore, is being done since the runway gets slippery due to rubber deposits from aircraft tyres over a period of time.
“The work is progressing as per schedule. It will be over before the end of next month. The resurfacing is being carried out in three phases. Phase III has been on for more than a month now,” an official at the airport said.
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The resurfacing of the main runway — that is about 12,000 feet long — is done from 10.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this time, the secondary runway of the airport is put to use, he added. “This work had been pending for a few years. We decided to begin it last year because the secondary runway was available for operations,” the official said.
In September, soon after the work began, the main runway’s surface chipped off and some flights were diverted to airports like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
The regular maintenance of the main runway is done every Tuesday and Saturday during which time it is closed and the secondary runway is utilised.
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Full-fledged resurfacing work has been taken up at the airport after a decade, officials added.