TN's Coimbatore airport expansion moves ahead as survey for wider access road completed
Coimbatore, July 26
The long-pending expansion of Coimbatore International Airport in Tamil Nadu has moved a step closer to execution, with the district administration completing a detailed land survey to facilitate the construction of a 10.5-metre-wide access road sought by local residents and farmers.
Officials said the survey report and revised land map have now been submitted to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and work on the airport's boundary wall is expected to resume once the proposal receives approval.
The expansion of Coimbatore Airport is regarded as one of the most significant infrastructure projects for western Tamil Nadu, with the upgraded facility expected to strengthen the region's industrial, commercial and international connectivity.
The existing 9,000-foot runway is proposed to be extended to 12,000 feet, enabling the airport to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350.
The longer runway would also allow direct international passenger services and long-haul cargo operations from Coimbatore, reducing dependence on other airports and providing a major boost to exports, manufacturing and investment in the region.
The airport expansion project had received an allocation of around Rs 2,200 crore in earlier phases, and most of the required land has already been acquired by the government. However, officials said an additional seven acres are still required to complete the project, and the Revenue Department is continuing the land acquisition process.
Construction of the airport's perimeter wall had recently commenced on the acquired land but ran into opposition from farmers and residents living in the surrounding villages. They insisted that sufficient land should be reserved for a 10.5-metre-wide road alongside the boundary wall to ensure uninterrupted access for local traffic.
Residents alleged that the original alignment proposed by airport authorities would leave only a four-metre-wide road, which they argued would be inadequate for regular vehicular movement and future development. The protests temporarily stalled construction activities.
Following the objections, Coimbatore District Collector Pawan Kumar inspected the site a few days ago and held discussions with farmers and local residents.
During the meeting, they reiterated that they would permit further construction only if a 10.5-metre-wide road was provided. Acting on the Collector's directions, the district administration conducted an extensive land survey over the past three days to finalise the revised road alignment.
Officials said the survey has now been completed and the findings forwarded to the Airports Authority of India. Once the authority grants its approval, construction of the airport boundary wall is expected to resume, paving the way for the next phase of the long-awaited airport expansion project.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I flew into Coimbatore last year for a business trip and the current terminal feels like a small-town railway station. Good to see progress, but hope the local community's concerns are genuinely addressed. Land acquisition in India always seems messy - hope the compensation for farmers is fair and timely.
This is exactly the kind of infrastructure we need! But honestly, ₹2,200 crore is a huge amount - hope there's proper transparency and no cost overruns. And please, ensure the local road is built first before any construction starts. Farmers have every right to demand proper access. 👏
I appreciate the Collector stepping in and listening to the people. That's how development should happen - with consensus. The road width demand is reasonable. A 4-metre road in 2024? That's barely enough for two cars to pass. Good decision to survey properly. Let's hope AAI approvals come quickly now.
Great news for western Tamil Nadu! The runway extension to 12,000 ft will allow wide-body aircraft - this could really boost cargo exports for the textile and automotive industries. But I hope the additional 7 acres acquisition is done smoothly without litigation. These projects often get stuck in court for years.
About time! I travel to Chennai or Bangalore for every international flight - such a waste. Direct flights from Coimbatore would save us so much time and money. Just hope the project timeline is realistic and the local road issue doesn't delay things further. The people's concerns are valid though - good on the district administration for handling it maturely. ✈️
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