Chennai set to get its second airport

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to develop the new airport at Sriperumbudur gradually so that it could be operated along with the existing airport at Meenambakkam. The proposed second airport will have a runway, a terminal building, approach radar and an air traffic control unit. With this new airport, Chennai might become the first city in the India to have two International airports as work on the 2nd airports in Mumbai and Goa may be delayed.

Chairman of AAI, V P Agrawal confirmed that the long-awaited runway at the Meenambakkam Airport will be operational by mid April this year. He said the AAI was gearing up to operationalise 8000 ft of the 10,000 ft second runway by April. According to a plan proposed by AAI, the new airport would accommodate about 5 million passengers every year.

Mr. Agrawal told, “The authority had submitted a proposal to the state government for joint development of the greenfield airport and the government was expected to announce its plans soon.”

The Airports Authority of India also plans to develop, control and approach towers at Sriperumbuder, while Chennai ATC would take care of the air traffic.