Chennai, June 16 (BPNS)
A Tamil Nadu delegation led by state industries minister, Thangam Thenarasu, and comprising of officials will meet the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi on June 17th, Friday. The delegation is to discuss with the Union minister the improvement of civil aviation facilities in the state with special emphasis on the proposed second airport at Chennai, the state capital.
It is to be noted that initial studies were conducted by the Civil aviation department along with the Tamil Nadu industries department on the feasibility of a second airport at Chennai, in addition, to present one at Meenambakkam.
A team of experts from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) conducted inspections at four locations- Padalam, Pannur, Tiruporur, and Parandur a few months ago. After the joint inspection, the TIDCO had submitted a pre-feasibility report and had given its recommendations.
Sources however told IANS that Pannur and Parandur are shortlisted for the second airport and that Pannur has advantage over Parandur in this.
The state government has identified 4500 acres of land at Pannur and at Parandur 4791 acres. The average travel distance to Pannur will be 49 km from the city and the time will be around 1 hour and 26 minutes.
The average distance to Parandur will be 73 km and the time will be 1 hour and 54 minutes.
However, sources said that both the sites have some man-made obstacles including high tension towers, pylons, and mobile towers and a detailed Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) survey for the site chosen has to be conducted.
