Second Airport in Chennai
The Tamil Nadu government is exploring the construction of a second airport for Chennai, near the temple town of Kancheepuram. For this, the state government is acquiring 583 hectares of land (1150 acres) adjoining the existing airport in Meenambakkam. which is located in the southern part of Chennai.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) sources said in New Delhi that the Tamil Nadu government was examining the feasibility of constructing a second airport for Chennaion the site 70 kms south of Chennai near Kancheepuram. The existing Meenambakkam airport is being managed and operated by the state-run AAI which comes under the purview of the Civil aviation ministry.
Sources said that if 583 hectares of land adjoining the existing airport at Meenambakkam was acquitted, a parral runway could be built at Chennai airport, there was no need to build a second airport, otherwise, a parrel runway could not be built during airport expansion and modernisation, there is a need for building a second airport.
Civil aviation minister Praful Patel had recently met communications minister Dayanidhi Maran in New Delhi and discussed the issue of modernisation of Chennai airport. Mr.Patel also told that the issue of land acquition had to be decided by the Tamil Nadu government.
Even so far as the existing Meenambakkam airport is concerned, Prime Minister Manmohan singh has already accorded “in-principle” approval for its modernisation through the joint venture route.
