AAI begins survey at Vellore airport

The survey aims to ensure that there are no obstacles to landing and take-off of aircraft when the facility becomes operational.

While AAI sources revealed that a flyover on the nearby Bengaluru-Vellore National Highway could pose a problem, those in the know said the highway ran parallel to the runway nearly a half a km away and hence did not constitute a hazard. Although AAI regional Executive Director P Sreekumar informed DT Next that documents to obtain 55 acres of land to extend the runway was handed over to the state government, Revenue officials in Vellore claimed they were unaware of the same. 

Meanwhile, local leaders called for more proactive efforts from the government side. Former Anaicut MLA M Kalaiarasu said, ‘The District Revenue Officials have not issued notices for eviction of encroachers from the poromboke land.” M Srinivasan, former president, Anpoondi panchayat which is adjacent to the airport said, officials should confirm if the land was encroached upon. Vellore Collector SA Raman said the required promboke land was available and that it would be handed over to Vellore airport within a month.