CHENNAI: After a plan to set up the city’s second airport at Sriperumbudur fell through, the Airports Authority of India has decided to speed up a preliminary survey of two other locations to evaluate their suitability.
Officials said that AAI chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra recently told officials to expedite study for finalising a location, reports The Times of India.
A 1,500 acres land pocket at Madurantakam in Kancheepuram district is being considered for setting up the airport along with another chunk of land at Gummidipoondi.
The ministry of civil aviation had set up a committee to study the land at Madurantakam to find out its suitability. The piece of land in Kancheepuram district is considered ideal as it is a vast expanse without buildings or houses and is also close to a highway connecting Chennai.
‘Govt did not earmark land within deadline’
Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and AAI officials will evaluate various parameters including the location, wind pattern, probable orientation of the runway, obstacles in the form of hills or constructions nearby, approach route and the incline flights may have to take to reach the runway.
AAI will require around 2,000acres for a second airport which could be set up either by the public sector airport operator or a private investor under a public-private partnership.
