Over 90% Land Acquisition for Coimbatore Airport Expansion Completed

Over 90% of the land acquisition work needed for the expansion of the runway at Coimbatore International Airport has been completed. The authorities have now begun the process of fencing the newly acquired land. The state government has set aside a budget of ₹1.18 crore specifically for this fencing project.

Sources from the Revenue Department told The Hindu that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) requested for the demarcation of the acquired lands prior to their transfer. In response to this, the government allocated funds for the task, which was subsequently assigned to the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation.

According to insiders, the municipal authority has begun the construction of fences around areas procured by the Revenue Department. To date, approximately 3 km of fencing has been installed, inclusive of areas obtained in the Irugur village. It is anticipated that the total length of the fencing project will approximate to 9 km, the sources further disclosed.

As of December 15, only 17.27 acres remain to be acquired out of the total 635.33 acres of land that the State government has approved for acquisition. The Revenue Department anticipates that the acquisition of the remaining land will be completed by the end of December.

The acquisition process is governed by the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purpose Act, 1997, specifically under sections 7(2) and 7(3). The former applies when the payment amount is agreed upon by the government and the payee, ensuring payment as per the agreement.

In the absence of such an agreement, the latter section mandates the government to refer the case to the Collector to decide the payment for the acquisition and identify the recipient(s) of the payment. The government has set the rate at ₹1,500 per square foot for residential areas and ₹900 per square foot for agricultural plots.