Tamil Nadu government has identified two sites near Chennai for the ambitious second airport, and a team of officials has completed the preliminary study, people aware of the matter said on Sunday.
The two sites identified are Cheyyur in Chengalpattu district (about 100 km south of Chennai) and the other at Manellore near Gummidipundi in Tiruvallur district (about 50 km north-northwest of Chennai), which have the potential for establishing the ambitious airport.
Citing environmental concerns, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government in August scrapped the proposal to set up an airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district, a flagship project announced by former Chief Minister M K Stalin during the previous DMK regime.
Government officials indicated that the two sites may be suitable for establishing an airport considering their geographical location and submitted a report to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
{{/usCountry}}Government officials indicated that the two sites may be suitable for establishing an airport considering their geographical location and submitted a report to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
{{/usCountry}}Based on the submission of the report, a team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to visit the sites for an inspection. A government official had said earlier that even if a location and land have been identified, it would take at least five years for the airport to commence operations.
It is pertinent to mention that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has pegged the Tamil Nadu economy to reach USD 1.5 trillion by 2036.
Announcing the decision to drop the second airport at Parandur near Chennai, Vijay, while making a suo motu statement in the Assembly on August 24, said his government had decided to scrap the project and look for an alternative site due to concerns over water bodies, agricultural lands and flooding.
DMK reaction on the identification of two airport sites
Meanwhile, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson TKS Elangovan criticised the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, stating, "Everything was ready in Parandur (for establishing an airport). But they (TVK government) wanted to cancel. They want to open a new airport in Cheyyur and Gummidipundi. I do not understand why this is happening."
BJP reaction
Terming the decision as having been made impulsively and without due deliberation, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said, "It is noteworthy that both these locations (Cheyyur and Manellore near Gummidipundi) were previously deemed unsuitable for an airport".
"Furthermore, neither of these sites was included in the four locations originally shortlisted," he said.
Having abandoned the Parandur airport project for political reasons, thereby missing out on the state's immense economic growth, the government now realises its mistake but continues to compound mistakes in haste, he charged.
"Proceeding with this plan despite knowing the facts, such as the lack of sufficient land in Gummidipundi, its proximity to Sriharikota (spaceport of Indian Space Research Organisation), and the presence of the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and the Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant near Cheyyur, is the height of irresponsibility," he said in a statement on Sunday.