Residents seethe as AAI delays feasibility study for new Chennai airport

Chennai: Uncertainty continues for the residents whose property is stuck in the airport expansion tangle as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is hesitant to drop the proposed parallel runway project for the existing airport. AAI has also delayed a planned International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) study on the feasibility of a second airport at Sriperumbudur by over eight months.
For over 2,000 families in Manapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Kolapakkam, Tarapakkam and Kovur, a nod for the greenfield airport (now called a second airport because the state government wants two functioning airports) means their land otherwise marked for acquisition for expansion of the existing airport would be saved. Residents are furious that AAI did not take steps to start the study though it was planned several months ago.
"All along we assumed the ICAO study was on and the report on the new airport will come at any time. Now, AAI's declaration that the study is yet to start is a shock. This has only extended the uncertainty," said G Mohan Kumar, who has bought a house in EVP Township in Tarapakkam.
"Ninety per cent of my house was completed when the state government marked the land for acquisition two years ago. But the bank is putting pressure on us to pay up the instalments," said Somasekharan, another resident. They are also appalled at the indifference of the state government towards them.
The residents, who were on the verge of launching a massive protest to get their land denotified, had remained quiet because AAI had promised that they would ask ICAO to do a feasibility study for Sriperumbudur airport eight months ago.
27/07/09 V Ayyappan/Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Jul 2009, New Jul 2009