Parl panel recommends Centre to expedite process of approving proposed 2nd airport in Chennai

NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurance has recommended the Civil Aviation Ministry to expedite the process of granting necessary approval to the proposed second airport in Chennai.

The 77th Report of the Committee on Government Assurance, which was presented to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday, mentioned the recommendation of the panel chaired by Rajya Sabha MP M Thambidurai of All India Anna Dravina Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

"The Committee observed that the Ministry has not taken a final decision in respect of the proposed second airport at Parandur near Chennai. The Committee, therefore, recommended to expedite the process of granting necessary approval to the proposed second airport at Chennai," mentioned the report, which was considered and adopted by the Committee at its meeting held on December 4. As per the report, the Tamil Nadu government has identified two locations Mamandur and Parandur for the development of a second airport in Chennai.

However, the response from the state government regarding the finalisation of the site is awaited. The Ministry of Civil Aviation vide its Implementation Report laid by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on the table of the House on August 7 this year stated that in its continuous endeavour to upgrade airport infrastructure in the country has constructed a new integrated Terminal Building in an area of 136,295 sqm at Rs 1,260 crore at Chennai, pointed the report.

"With this, the passenger handling capacity of Chennai Airport has been augmented to 30 million passengers per annum (MPPA) from 23 MPPA. The New Integrated Terminal Building has been inaugurated on April 8 this year. The Ministry also provided the details of upgradation and construction of New Integrated Terminal Building at Chennai," it further said.

"On examination, the Implementation Report was treated as part-fulfilment of the assurance as the assurance pertains to seeking details of upgradation of the Chennai Airport with international standards and establishment of second airport in Chennai.

However, in the instance Implementation Report no information was provided whether a final decision has been taken in respect to proposed second airport at Parandur near Chennai," the report added. New Chennai Greenfield International Airport is a proposed greenfield airport project. It will be built near Parandur of Kanchipuram district. The proposed airport will be spread around 5,000 acres.