Tiruchi airport expansion: MP's plea to Defence Minister.

Tiruchi Member of Parliament P. Kumar has appealed to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to issue instructions for transfer of defence land for the international airport expansion project.

Mr. Kumar met the Defence Minister in New Delhi on Monday and handed over a memorandum.

The memorandum said the international airport at Tiruchi catered to the travel needs of people residing in five to six neighbouring districts. The airport was poised for expansion and further development in view of the rising passenger traffic.

The total extent of land proposed to be acquired for the expansion project was 683.32 acres out of which 345.62 acres of lands belonged to the State government.

The Chief Minister had accorded administrative sanction in early May for acquisition of the land. The remaining 337.70 acres belonged to Defence. Hence, there was a need to transfer the defence land for the project. Airports Authority of India (AAI) was pursuing the matter with the Defence Estate, New Delhi.

Mr. Kumar appealed to the Defence Minister to expedite transfer of defence land to Airports Authority of India to enable early completion of the project.

Mr. Kumar also presented another memorandum to the Defence Minister, appealing for transfer of defence land to the extent of 0.26855 hectares for reconstruction of a road overbridge near Tiruchi railway junction in lieu of the existing old bridge.

The memorandum said 85 per cent of reconstruction was completed except the approach ramp on the Chennai arm, which was pending for the last two years due to lack of ‘in-principle’ approval for transfer of the defence land.

While the Dindigul arm of the road over bridge was completed and opened for traffic, the Madurai arm would be opened in a few months. But the work on the Chennai arm was pending. Mr. Kumar said he had met the Defence Secretary and previous defence ministers for the last two years.

THE HINDU