Slow-paced Vellore airport hits fresh ‘roadblock’

This time, it is the alleged ongoing tussle between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the State Highways department over the diversion road.

Only after laying of the one-km diversion stretch can the Abdullapuram-Anaicut road, which currently splits the airport into the runway and terminal portions, be closed for completion of the work, sources said. Work on the Rs 7.50-crore terminal building, however, is almost over, they said.

“Airport related works are delayed as AAI wants the Tamil Nadu Highways department to hand over the land for the diversion road at no cost whereas the latter demand payment,” AAI sources in Chennai said.

This is one more impediment which will have to be removed for work to be completed. Earlier, when work was in progress, AAI suddenly upped the ante by reportedly demanding an additional 440 acres-the Vellore district administration had originally handed over 55 acres for airport expansion-citing the convenience for bigger aircraft to land when the runway would be expanded using the additional land sought. The move, however, was dropped after top government officials intervened.

“After completion [of the works], the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) will have to issue the airport licence which will take some time as spot inspections will have to be carried out by the central government body. And only after this can the airport become operational,” AAI sources averred.

This was revealed in response to questions as to when the facility would become operational following social media being flooded with messages about Vellore airport commencing the operation of flights to various destinations from March.

Meanwhile, former MLA J Parandhaman said, “Officials should try to reduce the check-in time for Chennai bound passengers at the proposed airport as otherwise the Vellore check-in time, flying time and exit time from Chennai airport would make flying to Chennai non-viable as road travel takes only 2 hours.”