AAI, Highways officials inspect land for road

It was decided at a meeting in Chennai to hand over land for the approximately one-km diversion road to be laid at a cost of around Rs 1.60 crore, according to AAI sources. Keerthirajan inspected the site as it was felt that the proposed diversion road intruded into the airport’s operational area and hence the AAI at the Chennai meeting asked the Highways Department officials to change the road alignment to ensure that airport operations were not affected.

Sources said that the inspection resulted in the alignment of the proposed road being changed suitably and that the onus was now on the Highways Department to complete the road at the earliest.

Once the diversion road is completed, then the Abdullapuram-Asanambut road, which cuts through the airport splitting the runway and the terminal building on either side, will be closed and handed over to the AAI for completion of the runway apron which abuts the terminal building.

However, a new glitch arose as to who was to pay for the proposed diversion road. Sources revealed that the Highways officials demanded that the AAI bear the expenses, whereas the AAI officials clarified their guidelines did not permit such expenditure.

The payment issue would crop up only after completion of the road when the issue would be taken up with the AAI top brass in New Delhi, the sources added.

Asked whether any airlines had expressed interest in operating flights between Vellore and Chennai, following reports that major airlines lacked seats, the AAI officials said this could be decided only after the airport was ready for air services.