Date:16/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/16/stories/2008041659610300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Plea on airport expansion

Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI: The Federation of Service Organisations has appealed to Sonia Gandhi, UPA vhairperson, and Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel to direct the Airports Authority of India to explore the possibilities of expanding the Tiruchi airport without affecting residential colonies.

In a memorandum, its convenor M. Sekaran said residents of 12 colonies at the western side of airport were afraid that their land would be acquired for airport expansion. Many were government employees who constructed their houses using loans and lifetime savings. Compensation would not recompense their economic and sentiment value.Land could be acquired from the eastern side.