The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will acquire nearly 151 acres in and around the Chennai airport for creating various additional facilities.
The land will be acquired in Kolappakkam, Manappakkam, St. Thomas Mount and Gowl Bazaar; in these areas, installation of simple approach lighting systems for secondary runway, construction of hangars and parallel taxi track for the airport, fuel farm, installation of CAT 1 approach lighting system for the main runway and a wide aperture localiser antenna will be made, officials said.
“We have been asking the State government for a long time now; we hope to get the land in a few months. The land acquisition process will begin and then, subsequently, construction and installation of the facilities. The passenger traffic and aircraft movement has been steadily increasing and we need to have these in place at the earliest,” an official said.
The airport witnesses movement of about 400 aircraft and at least 35,000 people a day.
Though the AAI originally sought about 200 acres from the State government, it had to cut it down after the State authorities asked it to do so.
When asked how many residential areas will be affected by the expansion, officials said they mostly will use only government land. “Only at a few places, we may have to acquire land from residents, but they need not worry as they will be adequately compensated,” he added.
The Chennai airport will undergo a major expansion plan as part of phase II modernisation project that will include construction of new terminals, airside developments, a travelator and multi-level car park.
