Coimbatore Airport: Land Acquisition Delays Plague Expansion Project

The expansion of the Coimbatore International Airport in Tamil Nadu faces yet another setback as the land acquisition process, originally slated for completion by the end of March, has been delayed.

The airport is located in Peelamedu, 11 km from the city centre of Coimbatore. 

The total area of 627.89 acres identified for airport expansion is spread across 23 blocks in four villages, namely Singanallur, Uppilippalayam, Kalapatti, and Irugur, as well as one block owned by the defence.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will carry out development works, including extending the runway from its current length of 9,500 feet to 12,500 feet, once the site has been fully acquired.

District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati has instructed the Revenue Department team to conclude the process by 15 May. Pati affirmed this directive, stating that only a minimal number of orders for land acquisition remain pending. He expressed confidence in meeting the new deadline, assuring that pending tasks could be finalised, reports The Hindu.

The initial deadline of 31 March was missed due to officials' involvement in various duties related to the Lok Sabha elections. Phase 1 of the elections took place in Tamil Nadu on 19 April, diverting attention from the acquisition process.

However, efforts resumed promptly after the electoral proceedings, with the entire team dedicated to completing the task by the revised deadline.

Out of the total 635.33 acres earmarked for acquisition with administrative sanction from the state government, approximately 14 acres are yet to be secured.

Notably, around 10 acres of this remaining land are designated as open space reserve (OSR) lands, categorised as 'no cost land', exempting the government from compensation. Consequently, only four acres remain to be acquired, according to insider sources.

The designated acquisition area comprises diverse land categories spanning Singanallur, Uppilipalayam, Kalapatti, Neelambur, and Irugur villages, encompassing 468.83 acres of patta lands, 28.37 acres of poramboke lands, 134.32 acres of defence lands, and 3.30 acres of other government department lands.