Date:24/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/24/stories/2008052457990100.htm

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Proposal on expansion to be reworked

S. Ganesan

Acquisition of residential land for Tiruchi airport may be curtailed

— Photo: M. Moorthy

Development talk: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru holding discussions with officials on the expansion of the airport in Tiruchi on Friday.

TIRUCHI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will rework its proposal on expansion of the Tiruchi Airport to reduce the extent of residential lands to be acquired for the purpose.

This was among the important decisions arrived at a high level meeting of senior State government and AAI officials chaired by Transport Minister K.N. Nehru here on Friday. The Secretary, Public Works Department, S.Audiseshiah, Secretary, Transport, Debendranath Sarangi, and the Southern Regional Executive Director, AAI, L.L.Krishnan, were among those who attended.

Though officials remained tight-lipped on the decisions taken at the meeting, given the sensitive subject of land acquisition, sources told The Hindu that the expansion plans would now be re-worked to substantially reduce the residential lands to be acquired on the western side, in front of the airport, in the wake of stiff opposition.

Runway extension

AAI plans to extend the airport runway to 12,500 feet from 8,000 feet and about 450 acres was initially planned to be acquired. A substantial portion of this was on the western side.

Though land was available on the eastern side, the Uyyakondan channel running across was cited as a major impediment. At Friday’s meeting, it was pointed out that a channel ran across the site identified for the expansion of the Chennai airport also. The channel here could be covered by a bridge-like structure to overcome the problem and the lands beyond it could be acquired, it was decided. However, providing a diversion to the Tiruchi-Pudukottai National Highway, running close to the airport on the western side, could not be avoided, sources said.

AAI officials would now reassess the land requirement on the eastern side and the expansion project would take off, once the fresh proposal was approved by the AAI and the State government.

The Joint General Manager, AAI, Pradeep Kandoth, General Manager (Projects), AAI, P.S.R.K.Sudhakar, the Airport Director S.Sreekumar, Deputy General Manager (Air Traffic Control) K.Shivakumar and senior officials from the National Highways Authority of India also attended the meeting.