Chennai: With its airport not up to international standards, Chennai has long ceased to be the air capital of South India.
So much so that Airports Authority of India (AAI) has had to pull up its local unit for negligence. The reprimand came after Airports Council International, a “voice” of airports worldwide, listed Chennai way down in its rankings.
“There is a lot of strain on the facilities because of the huge rush. The annual capacity of the domestic terminal is six million passengers, but more than seven million use it,” said airport director E.P. Hareendranathan.
The airport saw a 9.4% increase in passenger movement — from 68.3 lakh to 74.8 lakh — between April and October 2011 over the corresponding period last year.
The impact was an aircraft took longer to clear the runway in October, which had a cascading effect disrupting other take-offs and landings.
With increase in passenger movement, aircraft movement has also increased. But there is only one runway in operation and the airport is struggling to meet the growing demand.
AAI completed extension of the secondary runway in March, but its commissioning has been delayed as the approach lighting system has not been installed.
23/12/11 S Sujatha/Deccan Chronicle
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