AAI To Draft Revised Plan For Chennai Airport Expansion, To Meet Annual Demand Of 55 Million Passengers

The Tamil Nadu government has instructed the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to draft a revised proposal for acquiring land on the other side of the Adyar river for the expansion of Chennai airport.

AAI had earlier asked the state government to acquire 306 acres for the construction of an international terminal and cargo terminal on the other side of the Adyar river.

The AAI and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) undertook a joint survey of six land parcels in and around the Cowl Bazaar region, and concluded that the acquisition cost was too expensive.

TIDCO directed AAI to develop a new plan because, in addition to the huge land expenses, the acquisition of the land will result in the displacement of many families.

“We are now looking at acquiring 158 acres of uninhabitable land so that the cost of acquisition is less. Only those land which is uninhabitable will be acquired,” said airport director Sharad Kumar, reports The New Indian Express. 

Chennai International Airport, one of India's largest airports, is now operating on 1,317 acres of land, the smallest in comparison to other major airports. Every year, the airport serves 22 million passengers.

Following further expansion, the airport will require additional apron bays for aircraft to handle a projected 55 million passengers. The cargo infrastructure would be changed to make room for the additional apron bays.

The airport's second phase of modernisation is set to be completed by December 2024.