AAI seeks more land to extend Chennai secondary runway

Chennai: Construction of the Chennai airport's secondary runway across the Adyar River is progressing briskly and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has requested the state government for 35 acres of additional land to install approach lights at the head of the runway.
The residents of nearby Kolapakkam, fearing their houses will be acquired, are preparing to oppose this move.
The state government had handed over about 136 acres of land to the AAI and work on extending the secondary runway began. A bridge is also being constructed across the river by the Chennai-based Consolidated Construction Consortium Ltd (CCCL).
Meanwhile, at a recent panchayat meeting, the residents of Kollapakkam village decided to start protests. "If the 35-40 acres of land are acquired the entire village will go. Around 300 residents may lose their houses. It is also suspected that a portion of the Mount Poonamallee High Road that connects affected villages will also fall under the land required for the airport," said a resident.
18/08/09 V Ayyappan/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Aug 2009, New Aug 2009