SAVE POZHICHALUR

2007-07-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

WE , THE RESIDENTS OF POZHICHALUR WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU FOR ANNOUNCING A NEW PLAN FOR CHENNAI AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECT.

WHILE ONE SECTION ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN BREATHE A SIGN OF RELIEF, IT APPEARS THAT ANOTHER SECTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE AFFECTED BECAUSE OF THE PROPOSED PLAN.

WE PRAY AND HOPE FOR A SMOOTH AND AMICABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS FACED BY ANOTHER SECTION OF THE RESIDENTS NOW.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS BLOG http://savepozhichalur.blogspot.com/ HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE TO KEEP THE PUBLIC UPDATED ABOUT THE PREVIOUS EXPANSION PLAN.

PLEASE VISIT http://chennaiairportexpansionaffectedpeople.blogspot.com/
TO OFFER YOUR MORAL SUPPORT TO THE RESIDENTS THAT COME UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN.

........................ GOD BLESS ALL...........................

2007-06-15T22:33:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 15, 2007 Ministry of Civil Aviation

CHENNAI AIRPORT TO BE UPGRADED AND MODERNISED BY AAI

The Prime Minister’s Committee on Infrastructure which met here today has decided that Chennai Airport will be upgraded and modernized by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The Committee has also asked for a pre-feasibility report for a greenfield airport near Chennai.

The present airport in Chennai handle about 25 aircraft movement per hour and in the year 2006-07 it handled 97680 aircraft movement. The capacity of Airport to handle aircraft movement is expected to be saturated by the year 2014-15.

The Airport handled 2.8 million passengers in its international terminal in 2006-07. The capacity of this terminal is 3 million annually and it is expected to be saturated by 2007-08. Similarly the domestic terminal which handled 5.9 million passengers in 2006-07 has a capacity to handle 6 million passengers annually and will be saturated by 2007-08.

The Airport Cargo handling capacity is also expected to be saturated around the same time. The modernization and restructuring is expected to cost around approximately Rs.2350 crore of which cost of construction of runway, taxiway and apron would be around Rs. 1100 crore and cost of construction of terminal building, cargo building, car park and face Uplift would be Rs.1250 crore.

MC/GK

LINK

2007-06-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

AAI not to take up greenfield airport in Chennai: Patel

Mumbai, June 11: Minister for civil aviation Praful Patel today ruled out the possibility of a greenfield airport in Chennai being taken up by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The civil aviation ministry has already received a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly which says the AAI should modernise the existing airport and also build a greenfield one near the city. The new airport is to be built across 5,000 acres near Sriperumbudur at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore.

''There is no possibility of AAI handling the greenfield airport,'' said Mr Patel while addressing delegates at third annual investors' summit organised by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

Sensing that it will get Chennai and Kolkata airports, the AAI has already begun groundwork by inviting global design bids so that work can begin as soon as all clearances come.

At the existing airport in Chennai, the immediate task is to provide new domestic and international terminal. This work will be done in phases and at a cost of about Rs 2,000 crore.

Mr Patel also said that joint ventures for non-aeronautical activities at 35 non-metro airports will take off in a year. The concept of merchant airports will be cornerstone of the Vision 2020 document to be unveiled soon, he said.

--- UNI

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2007-06-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

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2007-06-03T22:58:00.000-07:00

Airport to get parallel runway

P. Oppili

"Facilities will depend on extent of land acquired"

CHENNAI: Expansion work at the Chennai airport will include creation of a parallel runway and two connecting taxi tracks beyond the Adyar river, Airport Director Dinesh Kumar said on Saturday.

"Depending upon the extent of land we get, we will decide on adding a few more facilities at the acquired place," Mr. Kumar said. The expansion work would be completed within 18 to 24 months from the date the State Government handed over the acquired land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The AAI is awaiting the Board's consent to begin the expansion work. According to AAI sources, any proposal regarding airport development would be sent to the AAI Board for approval. The expansion work would begin only after the AAI authorities received a formal clearance from the Board. As per the procedure, the State Government had surveyed the areas and started the acquisition process. Once the acquisition was over, the lands would be handed over to the AAI for the expansion work, said the sources.

On its part, the Kancheepuram district administration has identified the survey numbers in four villages — Kolappakkam, Manappakkam, Tharappakkam and Gerugambakkam.

A senior officer said the survey numbers had already been given to the local panchayat officials and that they had been advised to display the same in the villages.

As of now, the district administration has completed the survey work and is waiting for the Government to issue an order. The actual acquisition process would begin after this.

An AAI source said they would first fence the entire area and reclaim it by filling the place. The AAI would construct box culverts across the Adyar to connect it to the existing airport.

The approval from the AAI Board is expected shortly and the works would begin soon after.

LINK

2007-05-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

Prime agricultural lands to be acquired
Monday May 28 2007 12:41 IST

KANCHEEPURAM: The prime agricultural lands in Kancheepuram will be the major casualty, with the district administration announcing its plans to acquire land in four villages for the expansion of the Chennai airport.

The villages listed by the authorities for acquiring lands are Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugampakkam and Tharapakkam.

According to a notification by the Kancheepuram district administration, out of the 432 acres of land in the acquisition list, 325 acres constitute wet lands. The State Government would lose just 48.38 acres of poromboke lands, while 28.23 acres constitute Defence lands and 32.20 acres of dry agricultural lands.

A total of 807 survey numbers, with an average size of less than one acre, had been notified for acquisition. Less than 10 survey numbers hold a size of above two acres.

At Manapakkam, 50.52 acres of wet lands, 7.19 acres of dry lands and 28.23 acres of Defence lands are proposed to be acquired. These include 184 survey numbers, starting from number 138.

At Kolapakkam, 103.22 acres of wet lands, 25.01 acres of dry lands and 31.65 acres of poromboke lands, comprising 129 survey numbers, starting with survey number 206, would be acquired.

At Gerugambakkam, 139.82 acres of wet lands and 6.28 acres of poromboke lands would be taken over. These include 527 survey numbers starting from number 289. As much as 31.86 acres of wet lands and one acre of poromboke land, comprising 77 survey numbers, would be acquired in Tharapakkam.

The initial resistance by the villagers was overcome by floating acceptable compensation packages, the officials said.

LINK

2007-05-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

PM's panel to consider airport proposal

New Delhi, May 27: A final decision on Chennai airport modernisation and the creation of a greenfield airport near the Tamil Nadu capital is likely to be taken up by Prime Minister's Committee on Infrastructure.

Official sources said that at its next meeting, the infrastructure panel would consider various aspects, including pros and cons of a new greenfield airport near Chennai, before taking a final view on the matter.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had recently announced that Chennai airport revamp as well as development of a greenfield airport would be handled by the Airports Authority of India. West Bengal government has already entrusted the Kolkata airport modernisation work to the AAI.

The DMK government was planning to have a greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur and Tiruvallur taluks near Chennai, Karunanidhi had said after a meeting of all legislative party leaders.

He had also said the existing airport at Meenambakkam would be the expanded to Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharapakkam in Sriperumbudur taluk and the government would provide suitable compensation to 947 households in these areas and rehabilitate them.

On the greenfield airport, the sources, however, said the current traffic projections show that the southern metropolis does not require a second airport in the next 12-13 years. The traffic growth could be handled by the Meenambakkam airport through its expansion programme, they added.

As per official figures, the existing airport was currently handling about 7.55 million passengers annually, which was poised to grow to about nine million by 2009-10. The sources said the only thing that was clear at this moment was that the state-owned AAI would handle the development of the existing airport, for which the state government has made the required land available.

According to the Tamil Nadu government, while the greenfield airport would come up on 4,820.66 acre, expansion of Chennai airport would be carried out on 1,069.99 acre at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore.

On Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, AAI has already submitted a modernisation plan that is estimated to cost around Rs 2,000 crore. The funds would be raised by the AAI through its own financial strength.

Of the estimated outlay, AAI plans to spend Rs 900 crore during the 11th Plan period and the remaining amount after that.

As the modernisation plan is put into practice, the existing airport in the eastern metropolis would continue to serve the passengers, the sources said. (Agencies)

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2007-05-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Land acquisition process begins for airport expansion

Kanchipuram, May 27 (PTI): The Kanchipuram district administration has said that the process to acquire 433.19 hectares of land in and around Sriperumpudur taluk for the expansion of Chennai Airport has begun.

A communique from collector yesterday said that 159.88 hectares of land in Kolappakkam, 32.8 ha in Tharapakkam, 146.9 ha in Gerugampakkam and 94.35 ha Manapakkam would be acquired for the project.

Tamil Nadu government had recently announced expansion of the existing airport, part of which falls in Sriperumpudur Taluk, and construction of a new greenfield airport at Sriperumpudur and Tiruvallur taluks.

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2007-05-25T01:25:00.000-07:00

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2007-05-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

2nd Chennai airport gets TN House nod
25 May, 2007 l 0305 hrs ISTlSaurabh Sinha/TIMES NEWS NETWORK

NEW DELHI: The uncertainty over Chennai's new airport has finally ended. The aviation ministry has received the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly which says the Airports Authority of India (AAI) should modernise the existing airport and also build a greenfield one near the city. The new airport could be built in a 5,000-acre area near Sriperumbudur.

The ministry is now awaiting a formal decision from the state that would be forwarded to the Group of Ministers and PMO for final clearance. But, perhaps sensing that it would get the Chennai and Kolkata airports, the AAI has already begun groundwork by inviting global design bids so that work can begin as soon as all clearances come.
"The immediate task will be to provide new domestic and international terminal at the existing airport. This work will be done in phases and at a cost of Rs 1,500-2,000 crore. By the time this terminal reaches peak capacity in 2015, we plan to have the new greenfield ready," said highly placed sources. The new airport will come up in an area of 5,000 acres and at a cost of about Rs 5,000 crore.

Since Chennai would have two airports — with no condition being set by greenfield developer to close the existing one — the new place could be used for international and legacy carriers. The existing airport could be earmarked for low cost carriers, a practice widely adopted abroad to help keep no frill flights sustainable by offering them lower airport charges.

The decision has surprised many in the aviation industry, as earlier, there was talk of Chennai going the Delhi and Mumbai way of privatisation.

LINK

2007-05-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

FICCI welcomes TN govt move
NT Bureau
Chennai, May 24:
The Tamilnadu State Council of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has welcomed Chief Minister M Karunan-idhi for his bold initiatives on airport expansion.

M Rafeeque Ahmed, chairman, FICCI in a press release has said that the government has formalised plans for airport expansion at the existing airport and for setting up of a new green field airport nearby without causing dislocation to large sections of the population.

He said the Tamilnadu State Council of FICCI fully supports and extends all cooperation in this endeavour of government to ensure that Chennai will become a major hub for inward and outbound air travel in the future

LINK

2007-05-22T23:16:00.000-07:00

Chennai to get swanky new airports

Sandhya Ravishankar
CNN-IBN

MODERNIZATION PLAN: After Bangalore and Hyderabad it's Chennai's turn to get 2 spanking new airports.

Chennai: After Bangalore and Hyderabad it's Chennai's turn to get two new spanking world-class airports. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister gave a final “go ahead” to the Rs 2000 crore plan at the All Party meet on Tuesday. The expansion plan and renovation of the existing airports has given Chennai passengers a reason to smile.

"We are ready to invest Rs 2,000 crore for both the airports. Its time we go in for some expansion and world class development in Chennai,” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said.

Chief Minister announced two new airports—one an expanded and renovated version of the existing airport and brand new airport called the Greenfield in Tiruvallur district.

The ambitious expansion though is facing some bottlenecks. The local residents are protesting the project since it will mean razing trees and the slum clusters form the area. Also some quarters of the ruling Democratic Progressive Alliance are opposing the mammoth investment. The All-Party meet held Tuesday however managed to assuage the ruling coalition, leaving only the opposition AIADMK discontent.

Karunanidhi promises that suburbs like Pozhichalur will not be affected by the modernization plan. Instead 1,000 acres will be acquired in areas like Girugambakkam, Manappakkam and Thuraippakkam. And the Greenfield airport will come up on 4,200 acres of land near Sriperumbudur.

Residents of areas like Pozhichalur who had protested vehemently against the airport expansion can now breathe easy. And Chennai's residents too have reason to smile. Although a trip to the new airport will mean a longer drive, it will offer much better facilities than the existing one.

LINK

2007-05-22T20:22:00.000-07:00

Another airport for Chennai, upgrade of Meenambakkam

BS Reporter / Chennai May 23, 2007

A new greenfield airport will come up at Sriperumbudur and Tiruvallur taluks near Chennai, while there are expansion plans for the existing airport at Meenambakkam, according to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

The greenfield airport will be set up on 4,820.66 acres, while the expansion of the existing Meenambakkam airport would be taken up on 1,069.99 acres at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore.

Both the projects would be entrusted to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Karunanidhi said.

The expansion of the existing airport will be carried out on 1,070 acres spread across Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Kerugambakkam and Tharapakkam in Sriperumbudur taluk. The government would provide suitable compensation to 947 families living in these areas and ensure their quick rehabilitation, a government release said.

Karunanidhi said the government initially chose to take up the expansion in areas covering Pozhichalur, but felt it would lead to displacement of thousands of families.

“As the residents opposed the move, we decided to take up the expansion of the existing airport in the above areas,” he said.

The expansion plans were announced by Karunanidhi after a resolutions was passed at a meeting of the legislative party leaders at the secretariat on Tuesday. He said all political parties, with the exception of the AIADMK, had supported plans for the expansion of the airport.

Industry and trade bodies have been urging the state government to take up airport expansion plans forthwith.

A Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) statement said passenger traffic at the Chennai airport was expected to increase by 20 to 30 per cent and reach 12-13 million by 2011 and cargo traffic was expected to increase by more than 20-25 per cent in the next four years.

The existing facilities are inadequate to handle this growth, the CII said.

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2007-05-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

Lands for airport expansion, new airport identified

Special Correspondent

Over 4, 800 acres to be acquired for greenfield airport in two taluks

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1,069.99 acres to be acquired for expansion
7,115 persons in 947 houses to be displaced
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— Photo: V. Ganesan

IN DISCUSSION: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi presiding over the all-party meeting on airport expansion, at the Secretariat in Chennai on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Chennai will have a new airport soon. It will also see the expansion of the existing airport to meet the growing needs.

These were the decisions taken at an all-party meet chaired by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. He later said the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam did not agree with the resolution, claiming that many people would be affected by the airport expansion project.

Mr. Karunanidhi said that he had assured the party representative that the Government would look into all petitions. The task of construction would be entrusted with the Airports Authority of India.

Instead of the earlier decision to take over land in thickly populated areas of Ankaputhur, Gowl Bazaar, Pallavaram Cantonment and the nearby areas, the new land acquisition would be in four villages — Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Kerukampakkam and Tharapakkam. A total of 1069.99 acres would be acquired for the expansion in the villages.

In the earlier case, the number of people to be displaced was put at 60,000 and houses to be razed down at 5,000. Now, 7,115 persons living in 947 houses would be displaced. A small extent of defence land also needed to be acquired. The compensation package and relocation cost would be around Rs. 1,000 crore.

The Government would also acquire land for the proposed greenfield airport. The development of the airport and the expansion of the old airport would proceed simultaneously. As many as 4,820.66 acres spread across Tirumangalam, Mambakkam, Irungulam, Vadamangalam, Padicherry, Sirukilai, Kilai and Sriperumbudur in Sriperumbudur taluk, Tirupandiyur and Vayalur in Tiruvallur taluk would be acquired. A total of 6,540 people would be affected and 1,078 houses would be razed. The compensation would cost the Government Rs. 1,799.89 crore and resettlement of the affected people, Rs. 53.9 crore.

Officials explained that since the earlier government had already committed that it would give land free of cost for the development of an airport, it was not possible to go back on that now.

The new airport would have four runways to cater to the increased traffic. Both airports would be required given the rate at which Chennai was growing, the officials said.

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2007-05-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

New greenfield airport to be set up near Chennai

Chennai, May 22 (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced the setting up of a new greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur and Tiruvallur taluks, apart from the expansion of the existing airport at Meenambakkam.

The expansion of the existing airport would be taken up at Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Kerugambakkam and Tharapakkam in Sriperumbudur taluk, Karunanidhi told reporters here today after a resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting of the legislative party leaders held at the Secretariat.

While the greenfield airport would come up on 4,820.66 acres, expansion of Chennai airport would be done on 1,069.99 acres at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore, he said.

Karunanidhi said that the work for both the expansion and the greenfield airports would be entrusted to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The government would provide suitable compensation to 947 households in these areas and also rehabilitation to them.

The rehabilitation would be done in the first phase of the expansion work itself, he said.

The Chief Minister said all the parties, including the PMK, MDMK and the DMDK had supported the resolution. However, the opposition AIADMK did not support the resolution.

D Jayakumar, who represented the AIADMK at the meeting, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister "to reconsider the proposal as people in certain places have raised objections to the project."

Karunanidhi said land acquisition was estimated to cost Rs 1,000 crore. The construction would need an investment of another Rs 1,000 crore, he said.

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2007-05-22T02:29:00.000-07:00

New airport in Chennai on AAI radar

By IE
Tuesday May 22, 02:10 AM
Even as the Tamil Nadu Government and Civil Aviation Ministry explore opportunities to modernise the Chennai airport on the lines of Delhi and Mumbai, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is learnt to have favoured the construction of a greenfield airport in Chennai rather than going in for a makeover at the existing site.
Officials told The Indian Express that out of the two short-listed sites at Sriperumbudur and Oragudam, the AAI had found one at Sriperumbudur ideal to construct a greenfield airport. "Both the sites have been examined and the one at Sriperumbudur appears more suitable since having an airport at Oragudam would mean a clash of flight paths with the IAF's Tambaram airfield, something which would require constant coordination with the IAF authorities," an AAI official said. He added that roughly 5,000 acres needed to construct a greenfield airport are available at both the sites.

As for the existing airport, the AAI is of the view that a logical thing would be to construct a new domestic terminal and allow simultaneous use of the cross runways there. "These things can take us through till the year 2015. During that time, a greenfield airport with two parallel runways can be readied," said a source.

The Tamil Nadu Government had recently proposed to modernise the existing airport utilising 832 acres of land north of Adyar river. And even though the Civil Aviation Ministry has asked the state Government to get issues like connecting the existing infrastructure with the new land being offered sorted out by May 31, sources say the proposal has found few takers in the ministry.

"Issues relating to land acquisition, relocation of population, flooding from Adyar river and linking of new infrastructure with existing one will need to be resolved if the TN Government's proposal to expand the existing airport is accepted. Modernising the existing airport appears technically unfeasible. Only a greenfield airport appears to be a long-term solution," said a senior AAI official.

Works amounting to Rs 221.89 crore, relating to terminal buildings, parking bays, cargo building and operations block, are currently underway at the airport. Officials said once developed, these facilities would cater to a traffic demand up to 2010.

The AAI plans to construct a new domestic terminal, expand the International Terminal, construct Phase III of the Integrated Cargo Building and new parking bays at a cost of Rs 705 crore. Development of these facilities would equip the airport cater to traffic demands up to 2015, according to the AAI.

LINK

2007-05-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

Decision on airport expansion likely tomorrow

Chennai, May 21: The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu is expected to take a decision on the much awaited airport expansion project at a meeting of legislature parties to be convened tomorrow.

Chief Minsiter M Karunanidhi would chair the meeting, convened to elicit the views of the leaders of legislature parties, which included the opposition AIADMK, its ally, the MDMK besides DMK allies, the Congress, PMK, CPI(M), CPI and the Dalit Panthers of India.

The DMK, which came out with a proposal to expand the existing airport couple of months ago, had to put on hold its plan, following stiff opposition from the PMK, with its founder leader Dr S Ramadoss launching a campaign against the eviction of people living near the airport.

He had suggested that instead of expanding the airport, which would displace hundreds of families, the government could go in for a green field airport near Sriperumbudur, about 40 km away from the city.

Expressing concern over the delay in expanding the airport, industrial and trade bodies had warned that if Tamil Nadu did not take up the expansion immediately, Chennai would lose the chance of becoming an international hub in the South.

--- UNI

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2007-05-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

Airport staff oppose expansion

NT Bureau
Chennai, May 20:

In a new twist to the opposition to the Chennai airport expansion plan, the employees of the Chennai airport have planned to register their protest plan by 'blocking air traffic', if lands were forcibly acquired and people evicted at Pammal, Anakaputhur and Pozhichalur areas.

Sources in the know today said the employees have planned to obstruct air traffic by staging a dharna right at the runway if lands were taken away.

The agitation planned by the airport staff is the latest twist to the expansion plan as the scheme already faces opposition from several quarters, including the PMK, a key ally of the DMK.

The employees of the Chennai airport have decided to float an as an alternate plan, according to which the vast expanse of lands in Kelambakkam and Oragadam near Chennai could be utilised to build a new green field airport, sources added. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had planned to modernise airports in the metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai. and works have begun in most cities. It was decided to provide state-of-the-art facilities at these airports and plans were drawn up to expand the existing ones.

While works at Hyderabad and Bangalore airports are nearing completion they are expected to commence operations from next year.

However, the plan to expand Chennai airport suffered a jolt after the residents of Pozhichalur, Pammal and Anakaputhur opposed the decision to take away their lands for the expansion.

They staged several protests and the issue took a turn with various political parties pitching in their support for the protesting people. The Communists and the PMK, who are allies in the DMK-led coalition, also opposed the move and suggested alternative plans to the State government.

They wanted the government to go in for expansion at places like Kelambakkam and Oragadam instead of displacing hundreds of thousand of families at Pammal and adjoining areas.

However, the Civil Aviation Ministry had reportedly turned down their suggestion.

In this backdrop, to find a politically and socially acceptable solution, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has convened a meeting of Legislture Party leaders on Tuesday to discuss the vexatious issue.

Meanwhile, sources said that as a last resort the airport staff would sage a dharna at the runway if a people friendly solution was not hammered out.

LINK

2007-05-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

All-party meet on city airport

Chennai, May 15: The government will be calling an all-party meet on May 22 to discuss the expansion plans of the Chennai airport, according to a government pressrelease here on Tuesday. “Chief minister M. Karunanidhi has already sent invitations to leaders of various legislative political parties urging them to participate in the meet,” it said. The Struggles Committee, formed by the residents of four villages, had been organising several protests and demonstrations against the expansion project since March 2006.

The demonstrators fear that over 4, 200 houses and places of worship would be demolished if the expansion project was implemented in a site covering Pozhichalur, Pammal and Cowl Bazar and its adjoining areas. The residents were protesting against the expansion move and were sending faxes to Mr M. Karunanidhi urging him to give up the airport expansion project. The CPM and the PMK, major allies of the DMK, were also putting pressure on the government, seeking alternate site for the proposed Greenfield airport.

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2007-05-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

Indecisiveness bane of airport modernization

The Parliamentary panel has tabled a report that has listed indecisiveness on the part of the Civil Aviation Ministry as being a significant reason for stalling airport modernization

PTI
New Delhi: “Indecisiveness” on part of the Civil Aviation Ministry was preventing the modernization process of Kolkata and Chennai airports, according to the Parliamentary panel.

Privatized airports like Delhi and Mumbai were also not providing desired amenities to air travellers, the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture said in a report tabled in Parliament today.

“The Committee finds that the modernization and expansion of some metro airports, particularly Kolkata and Chennai, are on hold and privatized airports like Delhi are not giving desired amenities to air passengers,” the panel, headed by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, said.

The report also cited that the Union Tourism Ministry was “finding it difficult” to get space at Delhi and Mumbai airports to display publicity material meant for information to foreign tourists.

Regarding modernization of Kolkata and Chennai airports, the parliamentary scrutiny body said it was “constrained to note that the indecisiveness is preventing” the modernization plans of the two airports.

Profits of Air India and Indian had declined and their merger and proper synergization of resources could enhance physical and financial performance of state-run carriers.

It recommended that a proper exercise should be carried out to identify the likely expenditure involved in the merger of the two state-owned carriers and provision for it should be made accordingly in the budget at the Revised Estimates stage.

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2007-04-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

Plan to modernise Chennai airport

Special Correspondent

State Government also examining option of a greenfield airport

CHENNAI: "The Government has decided to go in for modernisation and expansion of Chennai airport in coordination with the Government of India.

The State Government is also examining the option of establishing a greenfield airport," Transport Minister K.N. Nehru informed the Assembly on Friday.

The Transport department's policy note, which was taken as read by the Minister, stated that through expansion, the State could meet its future requirements without difficulty.

"In the recent past, Chennai has grown as a hub for foreign direct investment in sectors such as manufacturing, automobile, electronic hardware, information technology, services, etc. Such investments are still growing. Apart from this, a large number of foreign investors such as Ford, Hyundai, Saint Gobain, Motorola, Nokia, Dell, Flextronics, Mahindra Renault etc., have made Chennai their production base. Tamil Nadu is also an important destination for foreign tourists. In the recent years, the Chennai airport has recorded significant growth in both passenger traffic and cargo movement."

It was keeping all these in mind that the expansion of the Chennai airport was decided, it said.

On expansion of non-metro airports, the State Government is taking steps to provide land for their expansion and modernisation in Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi and Tuticorin

LINK

2007-04-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ramadoss for greenfield airport at Oragadam or Sriperumbudur

Special Correspondent

Says land is available in both areas

CHENNAI: PMK founder S. Ramadoss said here on Thursday that considering the demands of air traffic in Chennai in the coming years, a greenfield airport could be set up at Oragadam or Sriperumbudur, near here, on 5000 acres. Land was available in both areas.

Addressing a press conference, he said the number of domestic passengers in Chennai airport had gone up by 10 per cent in 2006-2007 compared to the previous year, and international passengers by 38 per cent.

The cargo handled was two lakh tonnes, 13 per cent higher than in 2005-2006. In the next five years, demands of air traffic in Chennai are expected to go up further.

The existing airport may not be able to meet the demand.

It had been reported that 800 acres would be made available by acquiring land north of the airport. Even if this expansion were done, at a cost of over Rs.1000 crore, the facility would reach saturation point in seven-eight years.

Hence, the Government should consider whether the existing airport should be expanded or a new airport set up as long-term strategy.

Explaining the added advantages of a greenfield airport, he said the existing airport could also be operated.

No privatisation

The PMK leader, who had earlier opposed takeover of land at Pozhichalur for airport expansion, said be it expansion or creation of new airport, the work should be undertaken only by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). On no account should it be privatised.

The State Government should write to the Centre in this regard.

Stressing the demand, he had already written to the Civil Aviation Minister and the Prime Minister. Following pressure brought on the Centre by the CPI (M) and the CITU, expansion of Kolkata airport had been given to the AAI.

"Huge interest"

Dr. Ramadoss said he had information that "certain forces" were evincing "huge interest" in ensuring that the Chennai airport expansion work was privatised.

He said the airport, which was making profit, should not be privatised.

The Chief Minister should convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.

LINK

2007-04-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

AAI gets nod for work on Kolkata airport upgrade.
Our Bureau

New Delhi April 18: The Kolkata airport upgrade will get under way in the next few months, with the Prime Minister Council of Infrastructure on Wednesday giving the go ahead for Airports Authority of India (AAI) to take up the project.

Briefing newspersons after the meeting, the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, said the project, which would be completed in phases, would eventually cost Rs 4,000-5,000 crore.

"The entire project will be taken up by AAI from monies generated through internal resources. No subsidiary or special purpose vehicle will be set up for the project. During the first phase, which is to be completed in 2009-10, the annual handling capacity of the airport would increase from the current 5 million passengers to 20 million passengers. During this phase an investment of Rs 1,500 crore is envisaged including Rs 1,300 crore for development of a new terminal building," Mr Patel said.

Chennai airport: A decision on modernisation of Chennai airport would be taken after the State Government comes back to the Centre with a proposal on making land available.

"The State is expected to revert to the Centre by May 31 with a proposal on making land available. Already about 800 acres have been earmarked but there are some other issues as a connecting corridor is not there. The airport will be upgraded in consultation with the State Government," Mr Patel said.

Mumbai airport: Acknowledging that there was some delay in the ongoing modernisation of Mumbai airport, the Minister said that the Group of Ministers headed by the Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, is to meet here on April 23 to take a decision on unlocking Salt Pan area in Mumbai. The modernisation process has slowed down, as the State Government has been unable to move people from slums around the airport to areas earmarked for them in Salt Pan areas in other parts of the city.

"The delay in Mumbai airport modernisation is mainly because the terms of the State support agreement have not been fulfilled. The State Government has been unable to take action on rehabilitating slum dwellers and this is delaying the process," the Minister said.

LINK

2007-04-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

Govt. approves Kolkata airport modernisation plan
New Delhi, April 18 (PTI): The first phase of modernisation of Kolkata airport will be completed in three years, with the Government today giving formal approval to Airports Authority of India to start work on the Rs 1,542 crore project.

On completion of the first phase by 2009-10, the airport would have a new terminal, another runway and sophisticated communication and navigation system (CNS). The revamped airport would be able to handle 20 million passengers compared with five million now.

"The Infrastructure Committee, headed by the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh), today gave its formal approval to the modernisation plan of Kolkata airport. Work will start in the next few months," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters after the Committee meeting here.

"Now, we will move the Public Investment Board to get clearance and then start work," he said.

On modernisation of Chennai airport, Patel said the state government has been given a month's time to clarify its position on the land allotted for expansion of the airport.

LINK

2007-04-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Govt to finalise JV partners for airports update
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 12:42 [IST]
PTI

New Delhi:Carrying forward the process of modernisation of airports, the government today indicated that it will complete the process of selection of joint venture partners for upgrading at least 12 non-metro airports by December.

The issue of modernising 35 airports and the time-table for completing the exercise was discussed at the meeting of Committee of Infrastructure held at Planning Commission under chairmanship of Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

In a presentation before the Committee, the officials of the Civil Aviation Ministry informed that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already appointed UTI Bank and Capital Fortunes Ltd as consultants for the city side development of 12 airports each in the North East region and Western and Southern region respectively.

The government proposes to complete modernisation of all non-metro airports by 2010.

As regards modernisation of metro airport at Chennai, the government is considering to set up a new airport either at Oragadam or Sriperumbudur as it may not be feasible to expand facilities at the existing airport for fear of flooding of Adyar river.

According to sources, the development of a greenfield airport at Oragadam, which is about 40 kilometres from city centre, would involve displacement of 5,500 people. In case the government narrows down to Sriperumbudur, more than 12,000 persons would have to be rehabilitated.

LINK
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2007-04-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

CII-TN unit wants expansion of Chennai airport

PTI[ TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007 04:30:25 PM]

CHENNAI: Industry body the Confederation of Indian Industry-Tamil Nadu today sought the expansion of Chennai airport and setting up of satellite townships in the state.

Addressing reporters here today, Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman, CII-Tamil Nadu, said a second runway at the existing airport was necessary.

"Two airports make a lot of sense in the long term. Many countries in the Asian region have two airports. Tokyo has two airports...many others have two airports," he said.

Stressing upon the need for a satellite city he said, "A satellite city is mandatory. Without a satellite city, we cannot address many fundamental programmes." He added that three satellite cities were already emerging without actually creating them. "Old Mahabalipuram Road, Sriperumbudur and Maramalai Nagar have become satellite cities," he said.

While making a presentation on CII's annual plans, Srinivasan said, creating a 20-year vision for competitive and inclusive Tamil Nadu, with skill initiatives, building inclusive cities, promoting inclusive entrepreneurship and celebrating the cultural heritage of the state were some of the key focus areas for the year.

LINK

2007-04-16T05:57:00.000-07:00

High-level meets will look into Chennai airport modernisation
Ashwini Phadnis

PM infrastructure panel schedules meeting on April 18

New Delhi April 15 A clear picture on the modernisation of Chennai airport is expected soon, with two high level meetings scheduled to be held here next week to discuss the matter.

Official sources told Business Line that the Prime Minister infrastructure committee meeting that is scheduled to meet here on April 18 would initially consider the proposal.

"The emphasis and focus at the Prime Minister's committee meeting will be on Chennai and Kolkata airport although the meeting has been called to discuss issues connected with the aviation sector as a whole," a senior Government official said.

The matter will also be discussed at a meeting scheduled for April 20 between the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, and the Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and senior officials of Airports Authority of India are also expected to be present at this meeting.

While the West Bengal Government already indicated that it wants the AAI to carry out modernisation of Kolkata airport, a decision is yet to be taken on how Chennai airport should be modernised.

The Tamil Nadu Government has already written to the Centre making available 835 acres of land on both sides of the Adayar River. The State Government is keen to follow the joint venture route for modernising Chennai airport.

The proposed modernisation has also caught the imagination of the private sector with the Tata Group having entered into a strategic alliance with Changi Airports International (CAI) to take up airport projects here, including the proposed modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports.

LINK

2007-04-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

Airport inside or outside?

With the residents of Pozhichalur up in arms, the expansion plans of the Chennai international airport is getting mired in controversy. Expanding the airport means that close to 1,500 acres of the surrounding areas like Anakaputhur and Pozhichalur (a town which is situated north west of Pallavaram) will be taken over by the government. But the residents want none of it. They want the government to look for a site that would not affect human habitation.

Most of the residents feel that the airport should be expanded in the outer region of the city, say a place like Sriperumbudur. The first advantage would be that traffic congestion will be minimised and the airport can have more modern facilities to handle high volumes of cargo and passenger carriers.

Moreover, it would be close to the IT majors plus in future the area might attract more IT parks and become affluent. Furthermore, heavy cargos can be handled smoothly to create more revenues.

While looking at the negative aspect if the airport is expanded within the city, the vacant land which you get may not be adequate to fit in the airport facilities according to international standards.

Plus the passenger traffic would become more congested and with limited space and handling of floating passengers would be a nightmare. Further, air traffic (landing and take-off ) would be affected due to poor visibility - particularly during rainy and foggy days as there would be more number of residential and high rise flats in the vicinity of the airport.

Now the Tamil Nadu government has assured that it will acquire 700 to 800 acres of land near Chennai airport in order to build an extra runway. But the residents of Anakaputhur and Pozhichalur are dead against the proposal. They say there will be enormous noise pollution which would affect the elderly, plus they fear that if there is any mishap in the functioning of the aircraft it would affect the people living near the place.

“We do not have enough money and I’m a retired government employee; how will I look for a new house and relocate at this age,” asks a resident of Pozhichalur.

The state government has always shown interest in a greenfield airport coming up in Chennai in addition to the existing airport and had short-listed two sites, one at Oragadam village and the other near Sriperumbudur.

As far as the airport officials are concerned, they feel that any modernisation would lead to privatisation. An official at the airport said, “If the airport is going to be modernised and privatised it would affect the public as parking fee will rise, air fares will be hiked, passenger fee and entry ticket will be also be increased. On the other hand, employees working in the airport will be affected further as they will lose all existing benefits by the government.”

But there is no gainsaying the fact that the Chennai airport, with its burgeoning traffic and cargo, needs to be expanded. And the best way to achieve this is to locate the airport at a distance from Chennai city, where there would be scope for easy expansion and handling of the growing traffic.

LINK

2007-04-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

What they say An air of uncertainty hangs over airport proposals

City Bureau

Will the metropolis get a greenfield airport or just have a new terminal added to the existing facility?

CHENNAI : Hyderabad and Bangalore will have new greenfield airports, perhaps by 2008. Chennai had a head start over them in becoming an aviation gateway to southern India. More international airlines and flights connect Chennai to the rest of the world, and many of these airlines want to increase their services to the Tamil Nadu capital.

But strangely, Chennai's pitch for comprehensive modernisation and expansion of the existing airport has not taken off. Between the Centre and the State Government, a decision needs to be taken whether the metropolis will have a greenfield airport, or just have a new terminal added to the existing facility near Meenambakkam.

Once that decision is taken, the rest may fall into place. If it is going to be a new airport, it may require about 5,000 acres of land, which becomes a critical and sensitive issue. It may take, at least, three years to get such an airport in place.

As an alternative, if the Governments settle for just another terminal building, the airport needs to be redesigned and upgraded to international standards. Even then, a sizeable extent of land becomes essential to achieve that objective. But land seems to be the toughest challenge ahead for the State Government and the Airports Authority of India.

Depending on the decision, the Centre, that is, the Aviation Ministry and the AAI, will have to decide the model: should it be an AAI project, or go the Delhi or Mumbai way to a private sector- led consortium.

The delay in taking this crucial decision on the future of the Chennai airport may even impact its current position and role in the aviation network — international, regional and domestic. Already, aircraft movement, passenger traffic and cargo handling have shown a steady and significant increase over the years. In 2006-07, the growth in the domestic passenger traffic was 38 per cent (at nearly 58 lakh), while international passenger traffic grew by 6.30 per cent (at almost 27.75 lakh). AAI sources project a 16 per cent growth in international passenger traffic, and a 20 per cent rise in domestic passengers over the next five years.

Going by the latest reports from New Delhi, it appears that the State Government may settle for a new terminal building. That is why it has reportedly identified about 700 to 800 acres of land for the expansion.

Can the existing airport handle this growth? After all, the AAI has been implementing expansion and modernisation projects here in recent years. The Anna International terminal and the Kamaraj domestic terminals were constructed in the1980s.

Airport Director Dinesh Kumar says the present expansion work will help in both passenger and aircraft movement for the next five years. But the expansion requires additional land. As soon as the required land is allocated, the development works can begin.

On the benefits of a greenfield airport, Mr. Dinesh Kumar explains that there are distinct advantages as it can be planned with a futuristic perspective. As far as the AAI is concerned, there are no plans at present to build a new airport. But, a second domestic module was on the drawing board, for which global architects have submitted their designs to the AAI.

As part of improving facilities, the Authority added 20 parking bays last year and another 16 will be added in the current financial year. The bays were used by airlines to park their aircrafts at night. On amenities for the passengers, Mr. Dinesh Kumar says on-line baggage screening system has been introduced. Chennai will be the first airport where the system would be introduced in the country. Similarly, a new slope-type baggage conveyor system will be installed in the international arrival area to replace the flat-type conveyor system.

All these are perhaps interim, adhoc arrangements and improvements.

The question before the State Government is whether a new terminal in the existing airport is adequate to meet the projected demands for at least two or three decades? Will there be enough space then to take up further expansion when required?

Or will it be a better option to go in for a full-fledged Greenfield airport that can cater to the needs of at least 30 years, with enough space for expansion? The answers to these questions may be available very soon.

(With inputs from P. Oppili and Susan Muthalaly)

LINK

2007-04-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

What provoked residents to raise the banner of revolt

K. Manikandan

DECEPTIVELY CALM: A view of the Gowl Bazaar area adjoining the airport. — Photo: A. Muralitharan.

CHENNAI : Modernisation or expansion of the Chennai airport has been talked about for a long time. But it was not before March 2006 that residents of Pozhichalur, Gowl Bazaar and Anakaputhur woke up to rude shock and confusion.

And the confusion has lasted a year, with no categorical announcement from the Government on whether their houses would be acquired for the Chennai International Airport Project or not. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority issued a note (U.O. Note No. R1/1363/2006) on February 23, 2006 with a copy of the land plan schedule about the areas covered under the proposed airport restructuring and modernisation. This included re-routing a sizable length of the Adyar river too.

A couple of months earlier, on December 14, 2005, the Transport Department passed a Government Order (GO Ms. No. 91), which said that the Government would hand over 583 hectares of land on the northern side of the existing airport as per the plan received from the Airports Authority of India. Detailed reports appeared in these columns about the number of buildings and extent of land to be taken up for the proposed project. This provoked hundreds of residents to pour out onto the streets, raising objections.

Struggle panel formed

The residents have since come together, organised a series of meetings, got the support of parties, most importantly, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and formed a struggle committee. They have not objected to airport modernisation per se, but have only opposed the land acquisition plan for the project.

Change in plan

The residents have, in their possession, a letter written by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation to the CMDA in May 2005 about the State Government's proposal on the project and land requirement of about 2,000 acres in Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Tharapakkam, Tandalam, Kovur, Periapanacheri and Gowl Bazaar. "How did the plan change all of a sudden? Who were behind this change in a matter of months, and why has the Government remained adamant on its stand of not initiating a dialogue with the people?'' asks B. Kumar, Struggle Committee secretary. The residents' charge is that the sudden change in plan was only to save a few vested interests They regret that there is no transparency.

They want the Government to stick to the original plan and not to take over land where hundreds of houses have already been built.

LINK

2007-04-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

What they say

D. Sudhakara Reddy, Air Passengers Association of India President

One of the major facilities for domestic growth is an airport ... the Government should pursue expansion at the existing airport. This would enable Chennai to have a high quality airport expanded in the shortest time and at a reasonable cost.

The expansion could be undertaken by providing adequate compensation to the residents (of Pammal, Pozhichalur, Anakapathur and Gowl Bazaar) — either through relocation or financially.

Expansion should be preferred, as a greenfield airport would need, at least, 5,000 acres of land. Acquisition of land alone may take three to four years. Thereafter, it will take 5 to 10 years for building the airport and bringing it to operation. The Government would also need to invest heavily on highways and railways link from the airport to the city.

With Bangalore and Hyderabad set to have new airports by 2008, Chennai will lose its primacy as a metro.

B. Kumar, secretary, Struggle Committee

It was baffling to note the change in original plan of airport expansion. Even today the residents have not been clearly told about the change and the reasons behind them.

The work of mobilising people, coordinating, moulding public opinion and putting the agenda before the individual was probably the biggest challenge for the Struggle Committee formed by residents of Gowl Bazaar, Pozhichalur, Pammal and Anakaputhur.

Most of the people who joined the protests were new to struggles, demonstrations, meetings, preparing `maida gum', sticking posters and distributing pamphlets. But once the movement picked momentum, people's spirit could hardly be tied down.

The various forms of protests have resulted from collective decisions . Keeping people together and the cause intact all through these months is a significant achievement.

M. Thiagarajan, Managing Director, Paramount Airways

The Government should bring in various bodies involved such as airline companies, chambers of commerce and a cross-section of business fraternity in Tamil Nadu to have a consensus on how to put this on the fast track... Secondly, some of the smaller airports abroad complement the major airports. For example, the Luton airport supports Heathrow. The concept here is convenience.

Besides helping to de-congest the major airports, the smaller airports also offer easy connecting points to the port of entry. Though they are called secondary airports, the level of comfort and facilities offered is no way inferior. We should also catch up with neighbouring countries like Malaysia where you have an excellent concourse connecting the bays to the main terminal.

LINK

2007-04-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

State offers land for expand existing one

New airport: No takeoff

NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 6:

The plan for a state-of-the-art new airport in Chennai seems to have run aground. Aviation authorities have reportedly decided to shelve the idea to come up with a new airport and are veering around to the view of expanding the existing one in Chennai to meet the increasing demand.

Chennai has fast developed into an industrial hub with several MNCs having set up their firms in and around in quick time. Hence the Civil Aviation Authority felt the need to come up with an airport comprising all the modcons.

Efforts were taken up by the State government to expand the airport by taking over land in Pozhichalur, Kowl Bazaar and Pammal. However several thousand people, residing in these localities, feared that their houses would be razed down and jumped into a protest.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi chose to put an end to the protests by announcing in the State Assembly that these lands would not be taken over. Instead the State government chose to allot land at Oragadam , Sriperumbudur and Kelambakkam to build a new airport. However the civil aviation authorities were not satisfied with the land allotted for the purpose.

With no proper land identified for the purpose, the expansion plans were unduly delayed. In contrast, at Hyderabad and Bangalore, land was identified much in advance for expansion of airport and the construction works are almost through. They now house all the latest facilities. It was feared that the delay in airport expansion plans in Chennai would result in international flights preferring Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Amidst all this, now reports suggest the State government has made an offer to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for nearly 700 to 800 acres of land to expand and restructure the Chennai airport.

The offer would be examined by officials to ascertain the feasibility of constructing a second runway at the airport. The sources said the Ministry would take a decision within a week.

LINK

2007-04-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

[PART OF REPORT]

Chennai airport expansion soon, says Maran

Our Bureau

Hints at second runway; special groups to look into road congestion

Chennai March 31 The Chennai airport will be expanded soon, the Union Minister for IT and Communications, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, told newspersons.

Mr Maran told reporters on the sidelines of a function here that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr M. Karunanidhi, had decided that the existing airport would be expanded in such a manner without affecting the neighbourhood.

Mr Maran said this while discussing the infrastructure problems of the city, but said he did not want to divulge more details about the airport plan at this stage.

LINK

2007-03-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

TELEGRAMS OF PROTEST: So far, the citizens have sent over 5,000 telegrams.

TN CM's mailbox full of telegrams

Sandhya Ravishankar
CNN-IBN

TELEGRAMS OF PROTEST: So far, the citizens have sent over 5,000 telegrams.
Chennai: It's an organised protest, but with a difference.

Residents of Pozhichalur, a suburb of Chennai located just behind the airport, still believe that the pen is mightier than the sword.

They are sending off over 5,000 telegrams to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to get state government to act.

Their reason: once the Chennai airport expansion plans get underway, their homes will be gone.

"Telegrams convey a sense of urgency and we want the Chief Minister to treat our problem as an urgent one. So we're sending off 5,000 telegrams asking him to consider our plight," says a resident of Anakaputhur, B Kumar.

Expanding the Chennai airport means that close to 1,500 acres of the surrounding areas like Anakaputhur and Pozhichalur will be taken over by the government.

Nearly 60,000 people will be displaced.

"We don't have any money and I still haven't paid back the loan on my house. I'm a retired policeman. At this age how will I look for a new house and relocate?" rues another resident of Pozhichalur

Karunanidhi has promised that expansion of the airport will not be done at the cost of the poor. But locals are clearly not convinced and have decided that when all else fails, re-inventing Gandhi is the best bet.

And Gandhigiri has definitely given them a brand new set of wings.

LINK

2007-03-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

[PART OF REPORT]

Protests delaying airport expansion, says Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

"Suggestions of all sections have to be considered"

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi said here on Tuesday that work on the Bangalore and Hyderabad airports was progressing quickly because they did not face organised protests as in Chennai.

He was responding to a question on the delay in the expansion of the Chennai airport and the relatively quick pace at which work on the Bangalore and Hyderabad airport expansion projects were proceeding.

Here, suggestions of all sections had to be taken into consideration before taking a decision, he said.

LINK

2007-03-13T18:15:00.000-07:00

Select suitable place for new airport: PMK

Chennai, Mar 12: Continuing its opposition to acquisition of land for the Meenambakkam airport expansion, PMK today that the state government should select a suitable place for setting up of a new green field airport.

PMK founder S Ramadoss told a press meet that the identification of place for a new airport had been hanging fire since 1999.

While the new airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad were nearing completion and were to be commissioned shortly, the land for the new airport for Chennai, which was thought of along with the airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad,was yet to be identified, he said.

"Let the present airport at Meenambakkam near here continue in its present place and another come up at a separate place. Both will have adequate traffic," he said

LINK

2007-03-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Residents line up at the local post office to submit their telegrams to CM Karunanidhi

Chennai residents resort to Gandhigiri
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 09:01:30 pm

A telegram addressed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, sent by a four-year-old girl, pleads him to spare her family that is among the nearly 5000 families who will have to part with their land to make way for the Chennai airport expansion project.

Residents of many such areas that are now under threat are also following suit. In the next 3 days, over 5000 telegrams will find their way to the Chief Minister's office.

The displacement for airport expansion has been a point of contention between the government and the localities as no adequate compensation has been promised. Now, protests are getting innovative and people believe that a dose of Gandhigiri could do the trick.

"We always believe in Gandhian principles. We've held a lot of marches, fasts and even hoisted black flags to register our protests. But Chief Minister Karunanidhi has not taken note of it till now. So as a last resort we are sending these telegrams. We've already sent 600 and plan to send over 5000 so that the CM responds favourably," says Advocate Dayanidhi.

However, it remains to be seen if the government will turn a blind eye to the Gandhigiri that these people have now resorted to. For 25,000 people, this is one more desperate attempt to save their homes or to at least get a good compensation.

LINK

2007-03-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

[PART OF REPORT]

To Ramadoss' allegation that government officials were threatening residents near Chennai airport, Chief Secretary L K Tripathy, who was also present, answered that the Chief Minister had instructed the officials not to acquire residential lands for airport expansion.

LINK

2007-03-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

Karunanidhi allays fears over airport expansion project

Special Correspondent

``Decision will be taken only after consulting all parties''

CHENNAI: The State Government will not acquire any land on the outskirts of Chennai, which is largely inhabited by the poor, for the airport expansion project, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Sunday.

In his usual question-answer statement, Mr. Karunanidhi made it clear that his Government had not come to any conclusion on the project. Be it expansion or development of the airport, only places, which would not cause much hardship to the poor, would be identified.

As he had repeatedly given assurance on this count, there was no need for anyone to entertain any doubt.

"Even if there is a delay in the airport expansion project, the Government will not take any unilateral decision. We will take the decision only after consulting leaders of all political parties," Mr. Karunanidhi said.

Responding to reports about Member of Parliament R. Prabhu's appeal to the Union Civil Aviation Minister for the modernisation of the Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi and Tuticorin airports and his emphasis on Coimbatore, the Chief Minister said the Union Civil Aviation Ministry should take it up for immediate consideration.

The State Government would extend full cooperation.

Job opportunities

On projects of airport expansion, Mr. Karunanidhi said they would facilitate establishment of industrial units, which, in turn, would generate job opportunities, improve trade and economy.

LINK

2007-03-12T12:56:00.000-07:00

சென்னை விமான நிலைய விரிவாக்கத்துக்கு பொழிச்சலூர் அனகாபுத்தூர் பம்மல் பகுதி நிலங்களை அரசு கையகப்படுத்தாது : முதல்வர்

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2007-03-12T08:47:00.001-07:00

Airport: All-party meeting in store
CM lays cards on the table

NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 11:

In a quick response to the salvo of PMK strongman Ramadoss that Tamilnadu government should not touch the houses of the poor for the Chennai airport expansion, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today made it categorical that the government would not act unilaterally and assured that leaders of all the political parties would be consulted.

In an official release here, Karunanidhi said that his government would never touch the houses of the poor. 'No one need to worry or fear. Even if the expansion programme gets delayed, the government would not go ahead unilaterally,' he said.

Referring to the remark of the PMK leader that there was logic and reason in the argument of people who say that the government feared touching the skyscrapers of the affluent built in violation of legal provisions, but wants to demolish the humble dwellings of the poor to turn the city into Singara Chennai, the Chief Minister said the government had razed to ground several palatial buildings in deference to court rulings.

He also said the government has not taken any decision on the proposed expansion of the Chennai airport. 'Under no circumstances, the government would acquire the lands of the poor at places like Pozhichalur, Ankaputhur and Pammal for the expansion programme. Only such locations would be chosen which would not affect the poor.' None should entertain baseless apprehensions, he explained.

In the same breath, Karunanidhi said it was essential to build key infrastructure facilities like sea and air ports and rail links to facilitate the economic growth of the State.

In reply to a question he said, 'When a region has such important infrastructure, it helps industrial and economic growth and gives employment opportunities to several lakhs of people.' Karunanidhi also stressed when the region witnesses such economic growth it helps alleviation of poverty and a better standard of life.

LINK

2007-03-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Govt. not to acquire land of poor for airport expansion: TN CM

Chennai, March. 11 (PTI): Assuring that the nearby land of hut-dwellers would not be acquired for the expansion project of the city airport, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said any decision in this regard would be taken only after consulting leaders of all parties.

Writing in party organ `Murasoli', Karunanidhi said the dwellings of poor people would not be removed even if it meant delay in airport expansion and no one should have any fear on this account.

Referring to PMK founder Ramadoss' statement opposing any move to demolish the huts for airport expansion, Karunanidhi said "his government will not hesitate to demolish unauthorised buildings of rich people. But, no one should entertain baseless apprehensions that the government would remove poor people's dwellings".

Ramadoss had recently alleged that government feared touching the skyscrapers of the affluent, built violating the legal provisions, but wanted to demolish dwellings of the poor.

Karunanidhi also assured that any decision in this regard would be taken after consulting with other political parties.

However, Karunanidhi said industries would flourish only in places with airport, shipping and railway facilities. This would lead to employment generation for lakhs of people and economic prosperity of the region.

He also asked the Centre to take steps to modernise the Coimbatore airport and assured that the State Government was ready to co-operate with it for such projects.

LINK

2007-03-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

Deluge of telegrams to oppose airport expansion

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: A group of residents from Pozhichalur, Cowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal gathered at Pallavaram Telegraph Office on Saturday to send telegrams to the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, seeking his intervention to protect their interests while implementing the airport expansion project.

At least 400 telegrams were sent, which read: "Honourable Chief Minister, Please fulfil your assurance given in the Assembly on 6.12.2006 regarding Chennai Airport expansion in residential areas." . The Chief Minister had told the Assembly that the Government was keen on ensuring that the interest of the poor and downtrodden were protected while implementing major projects.

Street-corner meetings

Various welfare groups at nearby townships, including Pozhichalur, Cowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal, held street-corner meetings on Friday to plan protests against the airport expansion. The meetings had decided to send the telegrams

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2007-03-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

"Spell out stand on airport expansion"

Special Correspondent

Ramadoss asks Chief Minister to clarify

CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader S. Ramadoss has demanded that the State Government should spell out its stand clearly on the Chennai airport expansion project.

Though Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi had given an assurance that the Government would not adopt a "brutal approach" in acquiring land for the project, he had also said that the State was negotiating with house owners on providing alternative sites. The Chief Minister had expressed doubts that even if the house owners were ready to accept the offer, those who were spearheading their cause would not agree to it. The Chief Minister's statement had created apprehension among the house owners, Dr. Ramadoss said in a statement here on Saturday.

The PMK leader said the Prime Minister had promised in Parliament that in the acquisition of land for special economic zones, the Government would adopt a humane approach. This was applicable to airport expansion project also. While the PMK was in agreement that the airport in Chennai should be on a par with other international airports, it should not be at the cost of poor people, who had constructed houses from their lifetime savings.

Instead of expanding the existing airport, the Government should think of constructing a new international airport either at Oragadam or Sriperumbudur, which would help improve the State's economy.

In a growing city such as Chennai, preference should be given to housing. Other facilities were only secondary. There was no logic in the State Government's stand that it would displace people living in Chennai to places far away from the city and create modern transport facilities within the city.

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2007-03-10T22:37:00.000-08:00

CM office deluged by letters
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 10:
The Chief Minister's office at the Secretariat was deluged with more than 300 telegrams from the residents at Pozhichallur, Kowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal today urging him to fulfill his assurance in the State Assembly that there would not be dislocation of people and livelihood during the airport expansion project.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has stated in the House that residential areas would not be dislocated as part of the expansion project of the Chennai Airport. However, as the steps were being taken at the airport site to commence the expansion project as decided earlier, various welfare groups at nearby townships, including Pozhichalur, Kowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal, held street corner meetings yesterday to draft a plan of action to protest against the airport expansion.

It was decided at the meetings to send telegrams directly to the Chief Minister to remind him of his assurance to the residents that they would not be shifted from their place during a reply at the House proceedings.

The aggrieved residents marched to Pallavaram Post Office and shot off hundreds of telegrams this morning. In the telegram, the Chief Minister was told to fulfill the solemn commitment of safeguarding the interests of residents during the airport expansion which he had made as a statement at the Assembly.

Struggles Committee formed in the neighbourhood to organise protests and demonstrations against the expansion project further said in the telegram that they would continue sending messages to stop the expansion work at the Chennai Airport.

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2007-03-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

PMK fires another salvo at DMK Govt.

Chennai, March 10 (PTI): Firing another salvo against Tamil Nadu's DMK government, its ally PMK today said it should not be adamant in going ahead with the expansion of the airport at Meenambakkam here.

PMK founder, S Ramadoss, who has been critical of several State Government decisions, including the setting up of satellite towns in farm lands, said in a statement that a new greenfield airport could be set up either at Oragadam or Sriperumbudur, away from the city.

This should be done instead of expanding the existing airport which, he said, would displace a number of residents in the area who had constructed houses long ago.

"Is it humane to displace them on the plea of economic development. Won't their economy be shattered, if they are displaced?" he asked.

On Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's reported remarks that Chennai will not be a metropolis if the airport is not expanded, he said a Madras High Court judge had said while delivering a verdict that Chennai was no more a city, but hell.

Expressing the hope that Karunanidhi will be firm on his assurances about handling the issue in a humane manner, Ramadoss said those who had built houses by investing their small savings should not be put to hardship.

Hundreds of residents in Ankaputhur and surrounding areas near Meenambakkam, who had received notices that their land would be acquired for expanding the airport, had sent telegrams to the Chief Minister to seek his intervention.

Over 14,000 houses and a number of places of worship will be demolished if the government goes ahead with the expansion plan and this will result in 1.5 lakh people being displaced, they said.

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2007-03-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

Pozhichalur residents keep their fingers crossed
Friday March 9 2007 10:14 IST

CHENNAI: The joint struggle by residents of suburban Pozhichalur and surrounding areas to save their houses and business establishments from being razed to pave way for the expansion of the Chennai airport entered its second year on Thursday.

Over the past year, the residents have been opposing the proposed project since it would displace thousands of persons spread across an area of 583 hectares including the colonies of Anakaputhur, Cowl Bazaar and Pozhichalur. For them, it has been a struggle marred by confusion over a lack of transparency on part of the government machinery and chaos over the fears of losing their homes.

Though the State Government is yet to officially announce on the localities which will come within the ‘expansion zone’ the residents fear that it would displace over 25,000 persons and also lead to the demolition of about 4,300 buildings including schools and places of worship.

Repeated requests to state, street-corner protest meetings by the CPM and CPI and angry outbursts against the state among other things have been a common affair in this silent suburb, mostly inhabited by members of middle-income groups and retired persons.

PROTESTS ALL THE WAY: The protests, after a point of time became more poignant and the entire Pozhichalur painted itself black, with flags hoisted all around, especially on the top floors.

ALTERNATIVES PROPOSED: Mean while, the residents also put forth alternatives, such as setting up greenfield airport. One resident even prepared plans for such an airport with the help of satellite images.

SUPPORT FROM ALL CORNERS: Cutting across party lines, the issue has earned the support of many parties. The latest to join the list is the PMK with its founder Ramadoss recently participating in a public meeting and assuring the residents of the party’s support in their ongoing struggle. The BJP and AIADMK have also pledged their support.

Besides, the Traders’ Association president T Vellaiyan and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar had also held protest meetings on the issue.

WHAT THE STATE SAYS: The ruling DMK, in whose term the issue has garnered speed, is firm on the expansion, but has not come out with clear-cut and straight answers.

However, there have been occasional hints by those in power on the issue. In fact, last Saturday, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had stressed that the expansion augured well for the economic development of the state considering which “residents should cooperate”.

His response to the greenfield concept hinted that he was not for it when he said, “The present airport is already far, how farther can the new one be situated,” possibly not endorsing the idea of having an airport outside Chennai. However, he has assured that the state will not take a hasty decision and “deal the issue in a humanitarian way”.

In fact, as a latest development, Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla who took over recently, has said that the issue will come to a finality soon. “We must get to some finality on the issue,” of land acquisition for its expansion, including construction of another runway.

“It should not go beyond two months,” he has said. The residents will be keeping their fingers crossed, till the ministry comes out with a final plan.

2007-03-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

Decision soon on modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports

Special Correspondent

It may take two years to build a second runway at Chennai airport

NEW DELHI: As the modernisation process of Delhi and Mumbai airports gathers steam, the Civil Aviation Ministry is likely to take a decision in respect of restructuring of Chennai and Kolkata airports within the next two months.

While the West Bengal Government has made it clear that it will entrust the job to the public sector Airports Authority of India (AAI) for modernisation of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, the Tamil Nadu Government has indicated to the Civil Aviation Ministry that it would make the land available for constructing the second runway at the existing airport in Chennai.

"In respect of Kolkata airport we will take about a month to decide and for Chennai airport we may take about two months for taking a decision," Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla told reporters here on Monday.

He said the Ministry had received a communication from the Tamil Nadu Government but it was yet to be examined in detail.

"Indications are that the land for the second runway at the existing airport will be made available and we would also prefer to opt for this route instead of going for a wholly new Greenfield airport in Chennai which will render the existing one useless," he said.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has held discussions on modernisation of Chennai airport with the Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran and the Tamil Nadu Government too has expressed its keen desire to get the project started soon as the handling capacity of the existing airport is coming under strain every year.

During the current year, the passenger handling capacity of Chennai airport is likely to be around 7.55 million and increase to 8.9 million by 2009-10. Even if a decision is taken within a month, it may take about two years for the second runway to be built and made operational.

For the Kolkata airport, Mr. Chawla said, the AAI has submitted its plan and the total cost of modernisation would be around Rs. 2,000 crores. During the tenure of the 11th five-year plan beginning this year, the AAI would spend about Rs. 900 crores and another Rs. 1,100 crores after that period.

He said that for the time being the existing airport in Kolkata would continue to serve the air travelers but the West Bengal Government was open to adopting the private-public-partnership route as in case of Delhi and Mumbai airports for constructing a second all-new airport in the city.

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2007-03-05T18:41:00.001-08:00

[PART OF REPORT ]

Meanwhile, decks are cleared for the long-awaited modernization of the Chennai airport with a way found out of the land acquisition problem. Chawla said the issue would be sorted out in about two months.

The modernization of Chennai airport — like in Delhi and Mumbai — will be in the Public-Private-Partnership format with 51% Indian equity. The plan for Chennai had run into rough weather with widespread protests over land acquisition in the area around the airport. Some 5000 homes and 50,000 people living behind the existing Chennai airport would have to be rehabilitated for the modernisation plan. The Ministry has finally found the way out, with alternative land identified.

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2007-03-05T15:47:00.000-08:00

AIRPORT REVAMP: Aviation Minister will take two months to decide on the modernisation of Chennai airport.

Kolkata, Chennai airport revamp soon

ibnlive.com

New Delhi: According to a Civil Aviation Ministry official, a decision on the modernisation of Kolkata airport would be taken within a month and Chennai in two months.

"We have now reached a stage where we are ready to take a decision. It will not be more than a month," PTI quoted new Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla as saying.

Talking about the Chennai airport he said, "We must get to some finality on the issue of land acquisition for its expansion, including construction of another runway. It should not go beyond two months."

However, on Kolkata airport he said that the Airports Authority of India would take up the project worth about Rs 2,000 crore. While 40 per cent of it would be taken up in the 11th Plan, the remaining part would be carried out in the 12th Plan.

“While the AAI could implement the entire project out if its internal accruals, it could also depend on market borrowings on the basis of its capital accumulation worth over Rs 4,000 crore,” Chawla said.

He also announced that a PPP (public-private partnership) cell would be opened in the Ministry to vigorously pursue the development of the non-aeronautical side of these non-metro airports.

When asked about the budget proposal to levy three per cent customs duty on imported aircraft, Chawla said besides customs duty, another 16 per cent is levied as countervailing duty, three per cent as education cess and another three per cent as special duty.

"We would propose to the Finance Ministry that the 16 per cent countervailing duty should be removed on aircraft, which are not produced domestically. The countervailing duty is meant to protect domestic producers and that is not applicable in case of aircraft," PTI quoted Chawla as saying.

On withholding tax on leased aircraft and aircraft engines, which would become applicable from April one, he said all airlines, who wanted to lease planes have been advised to sign their lease deeds before this period.

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2007-03-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

[PART OF REPORT]

Replying to a query on the proposal on expanding the Chennai airport, he made it clear that the State Government would not blindly rush through any decision on the project. "We will adopt an affectionate and sympathetic approach in making alternative arrangements," he said.

Several issues had been raised in connection with the airport expansion project, Mr. Karunanidhi said. The Government had been holding talks to provide alternative sites for people living in huts and some middle class residents of the site selected for the project. "It is doubtful if those who have raised the issue will accept [the Government's offer] even if these residents accept it," he added.

He appealed to all sections to cooperate with the Government. No problem would arise if it was acknowledged that the project had to be taken up in public interest and that air service was important for enhancing the growth of Chennai and the entire State, he said. To another query, he said the expansion project could not be taken up on a site far off from the city. He allayed apprehensions that the displaced people would not get market price for the land acquired for the project.

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2007-03-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

Airport expansion needs cooperation :

Chennai,Mar 3: In the wake of protests by people living around Chennai airport against plans to acquire their land for airport expansion, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today sought the co-operation of all sections for the project and said it was being done to promote economic growth.

"The existing airport itself is far away from the city and the second airport at a longer distance will not be viable," he told reporters here.
People living in the surrounding villages need not fear that their land would be taken at a lower price than the market rate, he said adding the government would consider all aspects of the expansion plan and would not take a hasty decision.

Karunanidhi,who inspected the progress of works in the IT corridor (a 20 km stretch comprising IT companies near the city),said out of the Rs 205 crore allocated for the project,only rs five crore was spent during the AIADMK period. After the DMK government took over in May last, 20 per cent of the works had been completed till now and road laying for the 20 km stretch would be over by August.

Within three years,the IT corridor rpt corridor would provide jobs to three lakh employees and attract the attention of the world.
To a question, he said government policy for factories set up in IT parks were the same and it would not differ from urban to rural places. (Our Correspondent)

Published: Saturday, March 03, 2007

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2007-02-21T20:17:00.000-08:00

[PART OF REPORT]

On the issue of a new airport for Chennai, the PMK leader said there should not be any further delay in identifying the new site. At the same time, he was not in favour of constructing an additional runway at the Meenambakkam airport.

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2007-02-21T06:54:00.000-08:00

India plans 'intelligent' airport terminals

PTI Wednesday, February 21, 2007 17:01 IST

NEW DELHI: As the roadmap for modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports nears completion, top Civil Aviation Ministry officials on Wednesday said new terminals coming up at major airports across the country would be "intelligent" and IT-enabled.

"We are awaiting a report from the Tamil Nadu government regarding land acquisition. We are likely to get the report in the next two to three weeks.

"As soon as we get the report, we will move the Union Cabinet on modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports", Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla told reporters after inaugurating the 'Inter Airport India' exhibition here.

He said the West Bengal government has already made it clear that the Kolkata airport would be modernised by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Earlier, addressing the inaugural session of the exhibition, AAI chief K Ramalingam said major Indian airports in future would have "intelligent terminals" fitted with sensors to operate various facilities -- from lighting and air-conditioning to an IT-enabled building management system.

High-tech equipment would be deployed for the security and air traffic control (ATC) systems covering a wide range of activities -- from access control to perimeter security.

The Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS-ATM) system would be modernised and linked to the satellite-based system called GAGAN, in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation.

"We will have a VSAT network to cover eight major airports" to begin with, Ramalingam said, adding even the baggage X-Ray and screening mechanisms would be upgraded
considerably.

The Civil Aviation Secretary, in his address, said while Delhi and Mumbai airports were being modernised, the greenfield projects at Hyderabad and Bangalore would be ready by the middle of next year.

Observing that there was a "colossal requirement" of an estimated 10 billion dollars to modernise airports across the country, he said the focus necessarily would be to have
public-private partnership.

"As a policy response, the foreign investment regime in airport development and air services have been made liberal. We are open to further liberalisation based on the needs of the industry", Chawla said.

Elaborating on the "exponential growth" in the Indian aviation sector, he said the passenger traffic has grown and would continue to grow at a fast pace. The number of scheduled passenger airline operators has grown to 15 and the number of aircraft in their fleet has risen to over 300.

During 2006, these scheduled airline operators have been given permission to import as many as 66 aircraft and another 350 aircraft are waiting to be imported by the airline
operators over the coming four to five years, he said.

The Civil Aviation Secretary said such huge expansion in a short time had overburdened the limited available infrastructure.

The major challenges, which were currently being tackled by the government, included modernisation of airports and ATM, ensuring safety and security standards at par with global specifications, evolving a dynamic communication and navigation system and development of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities, Chawla added.

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2007-02-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

Delay in airport project worries PMK

NT Bureau
Chennai, Feb 20:

PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss today expressed concern that Chennai Airport might take a backseat as Bangalore and Hyderabad have planned to set up greenfield airports in eight months.

Releasing the draft budget of the party for the fiscal 2007-08 here, the PMK leader said already very few international flights were coming to Chennai. Now, after the new airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad were built, flights would be diverted to these cities, he opined.

Indecision of the State government on whether to construct a greenfield airport at Oragadum (or Sriperambudur) or to just expand the Chennai Airport had to the present stalemate, he charged. It may be noted that PMK was one of the party opposing the proposed expansion of the airport.

Replying to a query on inflation, Ramadoss said controlling the rising prices was a Central subject. The State government could only streamline the distribution channels. And hence, the PDS network has to be strengthened, he said.

He demanded the State government should release details of the price rise of essential commodities prior to the budget. The draft budget of PMK had a revenue estimate of Rs 46,589 crore and the estimate on total expenditure at Rs 46,918 crore with a deficit of Rs 329 crore.

Ramadoss informed that this was the fifth draft budget prepared by the PMK. 'We are not finding fault at anyone. We only want to help the State government and also, we do not want any new taxes being imposed on the common people, particularly affecting the poor,' he explained.

Every year, the State's debt burden was increasing, he noted. This year (2006-07) the burden was placed at Rs 56,094 crore. The government was paying an interest of Rs 1.2 crore per day, Dr Ramadoss said.

The increase in non-plan expenditure would result in lowering of plan expenditure. Hence, the government should refrain from increasing non-plan expenditure for the sake of fulfilling the electoral promises, he said.

He called for the tabling of papers on Economic Survey, Action Taken Report, Outcome Budget and Gender Budget before the presentation of the State's annual budget.

State government should also hold consultations with farmers, industries, small and medium scale sector, political parties and economic departments of varsities before drafting the budget, Dr Ramadoss said.

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2007-02-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

Board favours attractive package to landowners

T. Ramakrishnan

The idea is to make them stakeholders in the Board's projects

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Housing Board has mooted a new land policy for housing with an attractive package to landowners.

The idea is to make landowners stakeholders in the Board's projects, says an official. By providing reasonable compensation to landowners, the Board intends to encourage them to part with their land. The Board has sent a proposal to the Government. It has been formulated in the wake of controversies over land acquisition at Singur and Nandigram, West Bengal. A few months ago, the State too witnessed strong opposition from the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's ally, the Pattali Makkal Katchi, to the move to establish a satellite town near Chennai.

Eventually, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi scrapped the project. The Chennai airport expansion project too is facing resistance from some residents of the areas that are likely to be affected.

The official says Rajasthan and Haryana have framed a new policy on land acquisition. The Board's proposal envisages allotment of prime property, residential or commercial, to landowners at concessional rates or mutually agreed terms as part of the compensation package.

At present, the acquisition is done under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Though time-tested, the Act needs to be revised to avoid delay in view of rapid urbanisation. The authorities are also keen that the process of acquisition be completed within a shorter timeframe. Another reason for the policy is that the Board is keen on creating a "land bank" for its projects that essentially target the middle class and weaker sections.

The high economic growth in the last three-four years has created a huge demand for land, as the corporate sector, especially information technology companies, wants to set up facilities in advantageous locations. A large number of private promoters have entered real estate. This has pushed up the land cost. Unlike in the past, landowners are not favourably inclined to give their land for government schemes. All these make the Board's schemes difficult to implement.

The policy will also address the Board's other problem of preserving its property.

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2007-02-15T18:58:00.000-08:00

A blogger writes about his home town PAMMAL and his views on modernization of Chennai Airport.

2007-02-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

Residents pin hopes on DMK allies
Saturday February 10 2007 10:07 IST

CHENNAI: The allies of the ruling DMK have pledged support to the struggle committee fighting the proposed city airport expansion affecting 50,000 people. From the time the airport expansion was conceived, the residents of Cowl Bazaar, Pozhichalur, Pammal and Anahaputhur have been waging a lone struggle against all odds.

All set to enter into the second year of struggle by February 16, the struggle committee against airport expansion have pinned their hopes primarily on Left parties, the PMK and DPI, all the allies of the ruling DMK.

Even if Congress, another key ally, has not overtly supported, the struggle committee has received positive response from the TNCC leadership when they sought co-operation on Wednesday.

Besides, BJP has assured to fight till the very end. They also expect the Opposition in AIADMK and MDMK to support their cause.

After learning that the Chief Minister will hold talks with political parties before taking a decision, the struggle committee has met politicians of all parties.

CPI state secretary Tha Pandian, openly confronting the state in the issue, has assured again that his party would never allow eviction of residents, said party sources.

Pointing out that the party has already passed a resolution to support the struggle at the state committee meeting, CPM state secretary has promised to talk to like minded parties to prevent residents from being forcefully evicted from their houses. PMK founder S Ramadoss who visited the residents twice before, has also pledged support to the people. Similarly, DPI general secretary Thol Thirumavalavan has promised to be by the side of the residents.

While BJP has taken a policy decision to support the struggle, Opposition parties like AIADMK, MDMK and DMDK have also responded positively, the office bearers of the struggle committee said.

The struggle committee has also submitted a memorandum to the ruling DMK also. As the Centre and State, to an extent, are keen on expansion of the city airport, the struggle committee feels DMK’s allies could only save their livelihood. The struggle committee against airport expansion has urged the State Government to issue a Government Order that it was dropping the expansion plan and allow them live without fear.

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2007-02-10T00:56:00.000-08:00

Officials complete survey at site
Land for Chennai airport identified

NT Bureau
Chennai, Feb 10:

In what appears to be an end to the speculation over the choice of site for a new airport for Chennai with international standards, the Central government seems to have zeroed in on a sprawling 3000 acre site on the Old Mahabalipuram Road, near Paiyanur, sources here said today.

In the Old Mahabalipuram Road, on the Tiruporrur to Mahabalipuram route, from Karunguzhipallam to Paiyanur, a 3000 acre barren land said to be owned by the Ministry of Defence, has been identified as a suitable location for the new project, it is said.

Senior officials of the Civil Aviation Ministry, Airports Authority of India besides revenue officials of the State, surveyed the area on 7 February for an on the spot assessment and soil tests are now being conducted, sources added.

The six-lane highway upto Siruseri from Madhya Kailash is likely to be extended upto Pooncheri, close to Mahabalipuram in the wake of the new Airport project.

Alongside the Paiyanur site, two more locations near Chennai are also being considered for their suitability to house the new airport for the City, it is said.

About 1500 acre site, between Pudupakkam - Mambakkam on the Kelambakkam Vandalur Road, near the proposed and shelved satellite city project of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and vast tracts of land measuring about 700 acres near Kelambakkam used by salt manufacturing companies are also being considered, it is said.

Interestingly, the Paiyanur site examined by the officials for the airport project was the one proposed to be developed as an administrative city by the previous AIADMK regime.

The Chennai airport expansion plan, conceived near the Pammal and Pozhicalur region in the midst of residential localities faced stiff resistance from not only residents but also from major political parties like the BJP.

The founder leader of PMK, Ramadoss also rose against the scheme, which he said would displace and harm the thousand of residents.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi announced in the State Assembly that 'no scheme which hurts and displaces the common man would be implemented' which pushed the expansion scheme to cold storage.

Subsequently, airport near Sriperumbudur was proposed by Karunanidhi which however was found to be not feasible.

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2007-01-30T06:40:00.000-08:00

Numbers game

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2007 03:06:36 AM]

If democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it without let or hindrance, look no further than the gala Republic Day celebration on Rajpath in the Capital! Old timers recall that when the tradition began back in the year 1950, more than 60,000 people thronged India Gate to watch the parade and marchpast.

These days though, the hoi polloi at the event add up to no more than 5,000. And the numbers seem to be declining each passing year! Now, it is true that the total number of visitors and dignitaries in attendance does add up to 20,000 or thereabouts.

But they happen to be mostly free pass holders, thanks to the literally thousands of such invites handed out by bureaucrats and ministers. The increased security bandobast, traffic snarls, and the general difficulty in securing entry tickets all seem to have made the common citizen elect to stay indoors and watch it all on TV rather than actually braving it to the parade grounds. It may not be politically correct but the common man seems to be voting with his feet!

On discretion

With land acquisition turning into a political hot potato, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has become doubly cautious these days. He has decided that fertile land should not be acquired for SEZs no matter what, and state-government organisations should implement the projects without ruffling feathers in the least.

The extra caution is despite the fact that the state has got only three SEZ projects formally cleared. With former chief minister Babulal Gaur watching the scenario closely in his new avatar as industries minister of the state, and with the redoubtable Uma Bharati refusing to fade away despite her ouster from the BJP, an extra-cautious approach seems to be the better part of valour!

A change of direction?

While resistance from the Left has slammed the brakes on modernisation of the Kolkata airport with private participation, the lack of adequate land is holding up expansion of the Chennai airport.

Now, the Tamil Nadu government is keen to get the airport modernisation off the ground and is not averse to private participation. The Centre too is keen on carrying out Delhi and Mumbai type modernisation of the Chennai airport.

However, the state government is finding it tough to acquire more land near the airport as villagers and encroachers are putting up a stiff political resistance. While it was initially thought that the land issue would be sorted out sooner than later, civil aviation minister Praful Patel has come out with a googly of a rider: modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports should be done in one go.

Going by the mood of the Left parties, especially after Singur, the Chennai airport modernisation project could become a clear non-starter. With the expansion project jinxed, Third Eye learns that the Tamil Nadu government is now considering the option of a new greenfield airport outside the city!

Tailpiece

Who will be the new power secretary? While a number of hopefuls in the IAS brotherhood have lined up for the job, the grapevine has it that R V Shahi may spring a surprise yet again by getting another extension. It all depends on whether the powers that be want an IAS type in the hot seat after having experimented for long with a non-IAS hands-on person who is known to be a go-getter.

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2007-01-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

Indecision holding up Chennai airport project

City Bureau

Need for consensus on the issue among political parties

An aircraft descending over the southern suburbs of Pozhichalur and Gowl Bazaar where local residents' protest against airport expansion plan is finding support from Opposition parties. — File photo

CHENNAI: A new terminal or a greenfield airport? Indecision over this issue is holding up plans for the expansion of the Chennai airport.

Late last year, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel announced that a new package for the development of Chennai and Kolkata airports would be unveiled in three months. There has been no final decision on the shape of the new airport here.

All that Meenambakkam and its environs have seen of late are agitations over the speculated land acquisition for a new airport project.

Enquiries with the Aviation and Airport authorities here reveal that the ball now lies in the State Government's court.

It is up to the administration here to finalise the shape.

Several options

Airport sources point to several options before the State and the Union Aviation Ministry or the Airports Authority of India.

Though the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government was very keen on clinching the airport project early, the land acquisition issue has emerged as a major controversy.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi, an ally of the ruling party, has come out categorically in favour of the agitating people who do not want to lose their land and houses.

Official sources now say that only a consensus among all the political parties on the shape and location of the project can move it forward.

LINK

2007-01-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

Ramadoss comes to rescue of residents
Saturday January 20 2007 10:14 IST Indian Express

CHENNAI: The residents of Pammal, Pozhichalur, Anakaputhur and Cowl Bazaar, which are under the cloud of a proposed airport expansion, saw a saviour in PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, when he promised to join their struggle should any ‘wrong decisions’ be made, on Friday.

While talking to residents in a meeting organised by the Struggle Committee of Pozhichalur, Anakaputhur, Cowl Bazaar and Pammal, at Pallavaram, Ramadoss said the PMK would not allow either land acquisition or displacement of people for the project.

The PMK was the first party to take up the issue of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) creating problems for residents in specific areas, he further said. Ramadoss said he supported the idea of a greenfield airport, for which tracts of vacant land outside the city in Oragadam and Sriperumbudur could be used.

He also suggested an elevated road connecting the airport with the city. This greenfield airport should be constructed only by the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Airports Authority of India and not by any private parties, he opined.

Highlighting the fact that present land rules were framed during the British rule, he said only some modifications were introduced in the 1960s. However, the State had no right to acquire resident’s land without their consent, he remarked.

As for the present controversy, Ramadoss hoped that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi would never act against the interests of the common people. The residents who spoke to the leader faulted the State and Central Governments for not taking the initiative to solve the issue through dialogue, though it had been simmering for about a year.

They asserted that they were not against the expansion, but only against acquiring residential area, where most of the people had houses which were their sole asset.

2007-01-19T15:44:00.000-08:00

PMK opposes land acquisition plan

PLEDGING SUPPORT: PMK leader S. Ramadoss (left) listens to a resident of Pozhichalur, a southern suburb of Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss on Friday pledged his support to the residents of Pozhichalur, Pammal, Anakaputhur and Gowl Bazaar areas, who are protesting against the land acquisition scheme for expanding the Chennai airport.

His party would neither allow displacement of the people nor acquisition of land belonging to them, he told the people in the suburban colony.

Viable solution

He said a new greenfield airport outside the city limits with elevated road connectivity was a viable solution.

Such an airport could be built on several hundred acres of vacant land, classified as `poramboke,' available in the Oragadam and Sriperumbudur areas.

Instead of handing over the project to private players, the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Airports Authority of India should build the new airport themselves. Stating that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi would never take a decision that would harm the interests of the people, he blamed officials for providing false information and preparing wrong plans. "Be assured... we will not allow airport expansion in your areas," the PMK leader told the gathering.

His party would join their struggle if any "wrong decisions" were taken.

The residents were not against expansion of the airport, but only against the manner in which land was proposed to be acquired.

LINK

2007-01-09T16:04:00.000-08:00

Govt. for expansion of Meenambakkam airport

New Delhi, .Jan 9 (PTI): Disagreeing with a proposal for a second greenfield airport at Chennai, the Centre has suggested expansion of the Meenambakkam airport and constructing a second runway to cater to the growing aviation needs of the southern metropolis.

The consultants for the airport expansion programme have recommended that a second runway be constructed on the other side of Adayar river and a new terminal building built between the two runways, official sources said here.

The Tamil Nadu government would look into the land acquisition requirements as per the recommendations of the consultants, they said.

While the state government wanted to have a greenfield airport and had shortlisted two sites at Oraguddam and Sriperumbudur areas, the Civil Aviation Ministry opined that if a greenfield airport was constructed, the existing airport would have to be closed down to make the greenfield project economically viable.

The continuance of the existing airport would deter private parties from investing in the greenfield airport, the sources said.

The Ministry also opined that considerable amount of investment has already been made at the Meenambakkam airport and urged the state government to sort out the hurdles coming in the way of land acquisition, they said.

The proposal for the expansion of Meenambakkam entails acquiring of 583 hectares of land on the northern side and adjacent to the existing airport. However, the acquisition proposal has hit rough waters due to large number of cases filed against any such move.

LINK

2007-01-02T16:54:00.000-08:00

Action in the skies to continue

Raghvendra Rao

Posted online: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 at 0000 hrs IST

NEW DELHI, january 2
Airlines running into losses worth crores notwithstanding, the year 2006 will be best remembered for growth that the sector witnessed: 48 per cent in domestic passenger traffic and 32 per cent in total domestic aircraft movement (191,150 aircraft movements recorded between April-June). Government figures put the number of domestic passengers carried till November 2006 at 29 million, a record. Many feel that this is the kind of growth which will drive the civil aviation sector in 2007.

The year may begin with the tabling of the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) Bill in the Budget session of Parliament. Once cleared, AERA will approve tariff structure of airport charges including air navigation charges and will monitor preset performance standards for airports with an idea to promote a level playing field. Air navigation charges levied by Airports Authority of India (AAI) will also be subject to AERA’s approval.

Next in line, and perhaps the most awaited development in 2007, would be the merger of both the national carriers Air India and Indian Airlines into a single entity. If all goes as planned, the country could get a unified carrier under a new brand name, new identity.

Similarly, the subsidiaries of both carriers — Air India Express and Alliance Air — would also be merged to have a new unified subsidiary catering to low-cost operations. The merger, aimed at optimising fleet acquisition and leverage the asset base of both carriers, would figure high on the government’s agenda with civil aviation minister Praful Patel making it clear that he wants the merger to go through before the end of this fiscal.

Meanwhile, out of its total order of 68 new Boeing aircraft, Air India will receive 15 Boeings to add to its current fleet size of 44. Indian Airlines, too, will get seven Airbus aircraft delivered between June and December next year taking its fleet size to 81.

Having successfully pushed for the modernisation and restructuring of Delhi and Mumbai airports by involving private players, the government will also take a final call on the modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports. While the West Bengal government has already conveyed to the Centre that it want AAI to execute the works, the M. Karunanidhi led DMK government in Tamil Nadu has been pushing to get it done through the model followed for Delhi and Mumbai.However, with land being a major constraint in Chennai, the government may also explore possibilities to have a greenfield airport there.

The government is also going to complete the bidding process and selection of joint venture partners for constructing the new greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai next year. The shape of 35 non-metro airports is also likely to improve next year with AAI planning to shell out Rs 4,662 crore to refurbish airside and city side areas. Airports in the north east are also likely to see major development works next year.

Batting strongly for the need to have better regional connectivity, Patel has already made clear his ministry’s intentions to develop airstrips in some of the lesser known areas of the country. This year may see work begin to develop airstrips at places like Ajmer, Mount Abu, Behala, Cooch Behar, Jharsuguda, Malda, Muzaffarpur, Kamalpur, Kailashar, Passighat, Rupsi, Akola, Hassan and Mysore.

Aircraft maintenance and overhaul is expected to get a big boost in 2007, with Boeing setting up maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities at Nagpur with an estimated investment of $100 million.

But it is the flip side of this growth which the government could do well to address in 2007. So, while it may allow more carriers to fly in Indian skies, severe congestion at major airports, prompting airlines to levy a ‘congestion surcharge’ and rising aviation turbine fuel costs would be the ghosts from the past which the government may need to get rid of this year.

LINK

2006-12-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

Kancheepuram may get Chennai's second International Airport

If DMK Government in Tamil Nadu gets things going in its way, the city of Kancheepuram may get its first International Airport. The Airport modernization and expansion plan as proposed by Tamil Nadu Government has shifted focus to Kancheepuram after running into difficulties in acquiring land in Meenambakkam( where the present domestic and International airports are located).
Situated at 70 KM from Heart of the city, the temple town will be a obvious choice for the Airport. Many companies located in National Highway 4 (Chennai – Bangalore) could be highly benefited by this decision. The list includes Nokia, Dell, Hyundai, Saint Gobain and a still growing list. With NH4 Being converted to a three lane road as a part of Golden quadrilateral the journey from city might not take much time. This will also help the city’s companies and population expand gradually towards Kancheepuram and Vellore.

LINK

2006-12-27T06:21:00.000-08:00

Non-availability of encumbrance-free land a stumbling block

T.S. Shankar

There is no visible sign of Chennai getting a new airport

CHENNAI: Representatives of the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have been holding a series of meetings with top ranking bureaucrats in Tamil Nadu to identify suitable encumbrance-free land for the Chennai airport expansion.

The previous AIADMK government had opted for a Greenfield airport in Chennai and announced its decision to acquire 1457.5 acres of land on the northern side of the existing main runway. But the DMK, the BJP, the CPI (M) and the local residents launched a series of protests. The proposed expansion work was then put on hold after the Madras High Court ordered a stay.

After the DMK was voted to power, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Union Ministers-- Dayanidhi Maran, T.R. Baalu, G.K. Vasan--met the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel, and impressed upon him the need to take up modernisation of the Chennai airport. With the encumbrance free land acquisition becoming a stumbling block, there is no visible sign of Chennai getting a new airport.

While sources in the Tamil Nadu Government are pushing for the expansion of the existing airport instead of a Greenfield airport, a clearer picture on the exact location is expected only after the State Government zeroes in on the land for further development of the airport.

Immediate option

Construction of a second runway to run parallel to the existing main runway on the other side of Adyar river with a new passenger terminal building constructed between the two runways seems to be the immediate option before the Tamil Nadu Government as recommended in a techno-feasibility report prepared by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation when the DMK was in power between 1996 and 2001.

According to highly placed sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry, two other sites--Oragadam on the GST road and Sriperumbudur were suggested by the DMK Government for constructing a new airport. But, the Civil Aviation Ministry has conveyed that two airports in Chennai would not be feasible and a Greenfield airport would be viable only if the existing airport is closed.

The hurdles confronting the AAI authorities in Chennai and the Tamil Nadu Government are complex in nature since there were other major restrictions such as Indian Air Force station in Tambaram, the INS Rajali Naval Air Base in Arakonam, an arterial highway running parallel to the existing airport, besides a St. Thomas Mount hillock on the flight path and another hill (near Tirusoolam railway station) with a firing range.

The Tamil Nadu Government has also decided not to displace residents on the Pozhichalur, Gowl Bazaar and other nearby areas.

LINK

2006-12-23T23:01:00.000-08:00

Chennai airport revamp likely at existing site

Ashwini Phadnis

Consultant plumps for expansion instead of new airport

Airport modernisation
Kirkpatrick proposal may be preferred as it does not require any diversion of Adyar river.
The State has always shown interest in a greenfield airport, in addition to existing one.
It had short listed two sites, one at Oraguddam village and the other near Sriperambadur.

New Delhi , Dec. 22

The modernisation of Chennai airport is likely to be done at the existing site instead of a greenfield airport coming up at one of the two sites that had been identified jointly by the State Government and Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Sources indicated that the expansion of Meenambakkam Airport is likely to see the construction of a second runway on the other side of Adyar river and a new terminal building being constructed between the two runways.

This is in keeping with an earlier recommendation made by Scot Wilson Kirkpatrick, consultants appointed by Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation .

One of the reasons why the Kirkpatrick proposal may be preferred over other options is because it does not require any diversion of the Adyar river, which would not only be technically difficult but also time consuming, sources indicated.

Expansion preferred

While sections in the Government are said to favour the expansion of the existing airport over a greenfield project, a clearer picture on the exact route to be followed is likely to emerge only after the State Government looks into the issue of land acquisition required for development of Meenambakkam Airport.

The State Government has always shown interest in a greenfield airport coming up in Chennai in addition to existing airport and had short listed two sites, one at Oragadam village and the other near Sriperumbudur.

Sources indicated that the Oragadam village site was considered a better option for a variety of reasons, including the availability of 5,000 acres of land and little requirement of rehabilitation and resettlement as the area was seeing a lot of industrial activity.

However, the Centre has expressed the opinion that having two airports in Chennai would not be feasible and a greenfield airport would be viable only if the existing airport is shut down.

LINK

2006-12-22T04:19:00.000-08:00

More private carriers may be allowed to fly abroad: Praful Patel

Special Correspondent

Government to set up high-power committee to review norms, says Praful Patel

# Only Jet Airways, Air Sahara operate on international routes
# Gulf sector reserved for Indian, Air India till 2008

NEW DELHI: The Government is likely to set up a high-power committee to review the policy on allowing private domestic carriers to mount international flights, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said here on Thursday.

Talking to reporters, he said the committee would undertake a detailed review to ascertain if the present norms — experience of five years and a fleet strength of 20 aircraft — for private carriers to fly abroad should be diluted. The panel would keep in mind the rapidly changing civil aviation scenario and the growing passenger traffic.

"We will set up a committee in the first half of next year to have a review of the policy and whether to amend or relax it to overcome the shortage of services to various global destinations," Mr. Patel said.

While Jet Airways and Air Sahara operate on international routes, other players such as Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines have expressed their desire to fly abroad. Also, the Gulf sector has been reserved for Indian and Air India till 2008.

Defending the present policy, Mr. Patel said the requirements of Indian carriers were different from those of other airlines. On the merger of Indian and Air India, he said the Committee of Secretaries had submitted its recommendations to the Group of Ministers headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

On the modernisation of the Chennai airport, he said the Tamil Nadu Government would have to decide on the availability of land. "Nothing is ruled out. If there is land, we may even go in for a new greenfield airport in Chennai."

LINK

2006-12-14T22:34:00.000-08:00

No land, so Chennai airport can’t be expanded like Delhi’s, build new: Centre

Pranab Dhal Samanta

Posted online: Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 0000 hrs IST

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 13
The Civil Aviation Ministry has made it clear to Tamil Nadu government that restructuring of Chennai airport on the lines of the ones in Delhi and Mumbai is not possible with the available land and that the state must look at setting up a new greenfield airport there.

This has been conveyed to the top DMK leaders after the Karunanidhi government could not give a commitment to acquire 583 hectares occupied by slums around the Chennai airport. Given that such a promise could snowball into a political controversy, the only option now left for the state is to draw up a plan for a brand new airport, as in Bangalore and Hyderabad.

The other option is to have a new terminal complex and convert the current one into a low-cost terminal. This, however, does not assure space for additional runways and taxiways, which is where the real expansion would be needed in the years ahead. With Kolkata opting out of the model followed in Delhi and Mumbai, a limited expansion just for Chennai may not be enough to attract world-class players.

DMK leaders, especially Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, have been lobbying hard with the Centre to upgrade and modernise the Chennai airport in the footsteps of Delhi and Mumbai. The Committee on Infrastructure had, in fact, given an in-principle nod to proceed on these lines for both Kolkata and Chennai. But initially, there was delay after the Left objected to Kolkata airport being pushed in this direction and then, the issue of clearing slums around Chennai airport that the DMK government is now finding difficult to do.

Also, having encountered strong Left opposition to the modenisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports, the Civil Aviation Ministry is keen to steer clear of any controversy in the case of Chennai. Given that the Left and DMK have come together in the past on the partial divestment of Neyveli Lignite, sources said, the DMK can help offset Left pressure against the restructuring of Chennai airport. It may, however, be noted that Left is not against greenfield airports which clearly makes the new option that much more attractive. The ball in now in Tamil Nadu government’s court.

LINK

2006-12-07T22:27:00.000-08:00

Ministry asks TN for fresh proposal for Chennai airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2006 08:00:55 PM]

NEW DELHI: Civil Aviation Ministry has asked the Tamil Nadu government to come with a fresh proposal after the state authorities were conveyed about the inability to carry out modernisation of the Chennai airport without proper land area. The Tamil Nadu government has informed the avitaion ministry that it would come up with a fresh proposal within the next fortnight, civil aviation Praful Patel told reporters in New Delhi. The state government proposal will detail the availability of land that is required for the expansion and modernisation of the airport.

Mr Patel met the communications and information technology minister Dayanidhi Maran, the Lok Sabha MP from Cenral Chennai constituency, to discuss the Chennai airport modernisation plan. The government would decide on due course of the airport modernisation after receving the final report from Tamil Nadu, Mr Patel said.

He said any modern airport should have parallel runway but the state government had informed that it does not want to displace people living around the airport area. The state government will come back to the ministry in next fortnight on how progress can be made by at least having a parallel runway, which is must under the new international standard guidelines, Patel said.

The state government has favoured the modernisation of Anna International Airport in Chennai on the basis of private-public partnership along the lines for Delhi and Mumbai airports. The civil aviation minstry would embark upon the modernisation process after reaching a mutually agreed decision with the state government. For the modernisation of these two metro airports, as a first step, the government has floated bids to appoint global advisors.

LINK

2006-12-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

A blogger discusses about the plight of POZHICHALUR residents.

Thank You,Mr Prabu Karthik

Read more :

Save Pozhichalur -1

Save Pozhichalur-2

2006-12-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

New site for Chennai airport expansion

Chennai, Dec 7: The Tamil Nadu government is considering a new site, a few kilometres away from the Chennai airport, for expansion of the airport, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi told the State Assembly yesterday.

Replying to CPI floor leader V Sivapunniyam, who said thousands of people near the Chennai airport would be displaced if the present plans for the airport expansion was carried out, Karunanidhi said the government had not finalised any such plan.

Some people would be affected if a good measure was done for the public. However, in this case, the government was considering a new site, a few kilometres away from the airport, so that many people would not be affected.

Raising the issue, Sivapunniyam said thousands of people would lose their houses and several buildings including temples and churches should have to be demolished, if the airport was expanded.(Our Correspondent)

LINK

2006-12-06T16:48:00.000-08:00

Alternative land for airport plan: CM

NT Bureau
Chennai, Dec 6:

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today assured that alternative land would be allotted for the airport expansion and urged the locals (of Pozhichalur, Pammal areas) not to believe the rumours floating around.

Intervening during the speech of CPI MLA Sivapunniyam, who stated that the residents of Kowl Bazaar, Pammal and Anakaputhur are reeling under fear that their houses would be taken over for airport expansion, the Chief Minister said efforts had already begun to locate alternative lands away from the residential settlements.

Karunanidhi further said that some middlemen, for their personal gains, have let loose rumours that their colonies would be taken for airport expansion. 'People should be vigilant and should not believe such rumours. There is not even an iota of truth in them,' he said.

Earlier, Siva Punniyam urged the State government to locate land away from the residential settlements in the locality for the airport expansion.

It may be recalled that residents of Kowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur, Pammal staged fast on Monday to show their protest against airport expansion.

LINK

2006-12-05T17:49:00.000-08:00

Into fast: Residents protesting against airport expansion
in Chennai. Photo: B Anand

The Struggle Committee, with a view to drawing the attention of the Tamilnadu government during the winter session of State Assembly to the Chennai airport expansion issue, today staged a fast protesting the expansion move.

It may be noted that thousands of dwellings in and around Pammal, Anakaputhur, Pozhichalur and Gowl Bazaar would be affected following the Chennai International Airport expansion plan. Agitated over this, the residents formed a struggle committee and staged several demonstrations protesting against the acquisition of land for the expansion.

On 26 November, a meeting was convened drawing leaders from different political parties, traders and representatives from residents welfare associations to voice their protest in unison against the government's move on land acquisition.

The meeting resolved to stage a relay fast to focus the attention of the government during this winter session of State Assembly

LINK

2006-12-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

Residents fast against airport expansion
Tuesday December 5 2006 12:10 IST

CHENNAI: Continuing their efforts to protest against the airport expansion plan in Chennai, members of the Struggle Committee Against Expansion in Cowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pozhichalur observed a fast at Pallavaram on Monday.

More than 500 residents, who participated in the fast, urged the government not to go ahead with the airport expansion.

B Kumar, secretary of the committee, said, ‘‘The expansion should not be done on the side which is populated. Many will be affected by the move.’’

The committee initially sought the permission of the police for a chain fast. ‘‘But they allowed us to fast only on one day,’’ explained Kumar.

However, similar fasts will be held at Pammal on December 7 and Anakaputhur on December 9.

The committee has also submitted memoranda to different political leaders.

‘‘We expect the issue to be discussed in the Assembly. But it is disheartening to know that the session is only for three days which means that many issues could not be discussed,’’ said Kumar.

Bharathi Kumar, chairman of Ankaputhur Municipality, and Mahendran, MLA from Perambur, extended support to the fast

2006-11-29T06:05:00.000-08:00

Residents seek political support to protest against airport expansion

Staff Reporter

Rally to be taken out from Pozhichalur on December 7

TAMBARAM: Residents of Pozhichalur and nearby areas, who have been protesting the land acquisition scheme for the proposed Chennai airport modernisation, will be meeting top leaders of political parties in the State seeking support.

This was decided after a meeting of associations of residents, traders associations and the Struggle Committee at Anakaputhur on Sunday. Representatives of political parties and the associations took part in the meeting, where all of them pledged to continue their struggle against the land acquisition and the silence of the authorities, both Central and State, on the project. Sticking to their stand on Sunday, the speakers and participants agreed that expansion and modernisation was needed, but reiterated that this should be carried out in vacant areas earmarked in the original plan prepared by the State government, where there was no mention of Pozhichalur, Anakaputhur, Pammal or even land coming under the St. Thomas Mount cum Pallavaram Cantonment Board. Better still, a greenfield airport in the vast open spaces in the city fringes could be created.

The residents planned to take out a massive rally from Pozhichalur and nearby areas on December 7 and meet the Chief Minister the same day. Meanwhile, they would also be meeting top leaders of all the major political parties to seek their support. If it did not succeed, they would stage a series of agitations and protests, speakers said.

Employees of the Airports Authority of India have been staging nation-wide protests against privatisation of airport modernisation and they too had extended their support to residents, the speakers said. The Airports Authority Employees' Joint Forum said they would be stating a three-day convention near the Chennai airport from December 27 and residents of Pozhichalur too would be taking part in it, a representative of the Forum said.

LINK

2006-11-27T22:54:00.000-08:00

Political representatives skip all-party meeting
Monday November 27 2006 09:25 IST

CHENNAI: The much expected all-party meeting at Anakaputhur on Sunday, opposing expansion of the Chennai airport in residential colonies, turned out to be a damp squib, with only a few political representatives participating. The meeting was organised by the Struggle Committee Against Expansion in Cowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pozhichalur.

Though organisers had invited representatives from all three aforesaid areas, only a handful of them turned up. DMK and Congress members made a fleeting visit and wanted to leave early to attend another meeting organised by local MP and Union Minister T R Baalu.

The members, normally used to giving long and prepared speeches, kept their impromptu talk to the bare details.

While one of them admitted it was a ‘grave situation and a great loss for residents’ and requested the State to look into the issue in a humanitarian way, another DMK member reiterated Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s assurance that the expansion would be carried out without affecting the people.

Velayudam, an AIADMK representative, said his party was for the expansion, but it should be carried out as per the earlier plan, which sought to use vast tracts of vacant land.

Bhoopalan, from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) proudly proclaimed that Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel was from their party and said he would be informed on the plight of the people if the project were implemented in its present form.

BJP district secretary I R Desikan stressed for unity among residents to see that the plan was shelved like that of the satellite city, where the PMK lead the agitation.

The list of speakers from political parties ended with these though many more were expected, as functionaries of all major parties from the three areas had been invited.

Former president of the Polichalur Panchayat, Gnanamani, one of the most expected high-profile speakers, failed to turn up though he had reportedly promised to participate.

It may be noted that the controversy over the airport expansion project had broken out during his chairmanship and the elected body was even criticised for its continued silence over the issue.

However, the new body, headed by his wife Varadammal, had passed a resolution recently, ‘‘condemning the irregularities in designing the proposal, where residential areas were included’’.

LINK

2006-11-26T21:40:00.000-08:00

New airport: decision will depend on feasibility report

T.S. Shankar

Government has planned a series of meetings to firm up a decision

CHENNAI: Will Chennai go the Bangalore and Hyderabad way to have a Greenfield Airport? Or will the Tamil Nadu Government opt for certain re-alignment of the "operational area" of the existing airport to have a main parallel runway and other logistic facilities to meet the surge in the passenger traffic and aircraft movements?

The answer to these queries will emerge only after the "technical feasibility report" is prepared by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Chennai, and the Headquarters in New Delhi.

While official sources in the State Government admitted that Tamil Nadu was lagging in the construction of a new international airport with access facilities, the Government's line of thinking on the infrastructure would be known in the next two weeks with a series of meetings planned.

And the first meeting is scheduled on Monday Srivatsava, a Joint Secretary in the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, and AAI Member (Operations) P. Seth. Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy will chair the meeting.

Blueprint not ready

After holding a series of meetings with the AAI in Chennai, the State Government is yet to firm up a blueprint for the proposed international airport project.

The Government, which was toying with the idea of a parallel runway has also encountered trouble, with the AAI pointing out that a canal was running between.

"The State is yet to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the AAI for expediting the project," a highly placed Civil Aviation Ministry source said.

Pressure mounted

Two Union Ministers T.R. Baalu and Dayanidhi Maran and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi have been stepping up pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel to include the Chennai airport under the AAI's modernisation programme.

During his visit to Chennai on November 5, the Prime Minister had announced that the Centre would soon begin work on the modernisation of the Chennai airport.

Land allotted

The Jayalalithaa Government had issued a Government Order allotting 1457.5 acres for a new international airport on the north-western side of the existing airport.

The AIADMK Government had planned to make available the land, worth Rs. 300 crore, free from encumbrance and of cost.

This new initiative was based on a study conducted by a United Kingdom-based consultant, which had recommended the construction of a new world-class airport.

LINK

2006-11-24T15:45:00.000-08:00

Sunday’s all-party meeting promises action
Friday November 24 2006 10:14 IST

CHENNAI: Amidst assurances from Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that the proposed airport expansion will be carried out without affecting any section of the people concerned, a scheduled all-party meeting at Pozhichalur against acquisition of land in residential colonies, promises to be a show-stealer.

The meeting is scheduled at Anakaputhur for November 26 (Sunday) and the organisers of the meeting, the Struggle Committee, set up against the expansion in residential colonies, have invited all major parties, the DMK, AIADMK, PMK, BJP and the DMDK.

And, if one goes by their words, the meeting will witness the participation of members from each party from Cowl Bazaar, Pozhichalur and Anakaputhur, the areas which have been in the centre of the issue ever since the expansion proposal was made.

B Kumar, secretary of the committee, told this website’s newspaper on Thursday that the assurances from political representatives on their participation was a healthy indicator.

“The mere event would send the right signal,” he said, while adding that so far, there has been no coordination between parties in this issue.

The future course of action post the all-party meeting is interesting. The Struggle Committee plans to take out a procession and meet the Chief Minister in the first week of December and submit the resolutions that will be passed in the meeting on Sunday.

“We plan to stage a sit-in protest in front of the Secretariat should our voices not be heard on that day,” Kumar said.

Interestingly, one of the expected high-profile participants will be Gnanamani, former president of the Pozhichalur Panchayat. It may be recalled that he created a flutter during an earlier protest meeting when he snapped the connection of the microphone even while a speaker was airing his views.

Sources then said Gnanamani, a DMK-man, had expressed disapproval when residents rebuked the elected body’s silence over the issue.

In fact, residents were also skeptical about a resolution passed by the Panchayat on Wednesday, “condemning the irregularities in designing the proposal (where residential areas were included)”.

“The elected body has swung into action too late and we believe it is only a counter to the all-party meeting scheduled for Sunday,” a resident said.

LINK

2006-11-23T23:33:00.000-08:00

Resolution flaying irregularities passed
Thursday November 23 2006 09:58 IST

CHENNAI: The Pozhichalur Panchayat on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning irregularities in including land required for the proposed expansion of the Chennai Airport.

In an emergency meeting called here on Wednesday, the elected body passed the resolution condemning residential areas being included in the proposal, a release said.

On Monday, a high-level meeting between officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the State Government was held in the city, where important issues, including modernisation of the airport and rehabilitation of residents was discussed.

G Varadammal, chairperson of the Panchayat, presided over the meeting and the resolution stated that residential colonies in Pammal, Pozhichalur and Anakaputhur, had been wrongly drafted into the proposal.

Another resolution demanding immediate attention of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Local Administration Minister M K Stalin and Tambaram MLA S R Raja to redress the grievance of people was also passed.

LINK

2006-11-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

Pozhichalur panchayat resists land acquisition

Staff Reporter

TAMBARAM : The Pozhichalur Village Panchayat, at an urgent meeting of its ward members on Wednesday, asked the Central and State governments to protect the interests of Pozhichalur residents while acquiring land for the proposed Chennai Airport expansion.

The members criticised the manner in which Pozhichalur, Pammal and Anakaputhur were included for the proposed expansion plans, when they did not figure in the proposed list when the original airport expansion plan was drawn up.

The panchayat members said they welcomed the airport modernisation and expansion, but the expansion should be carried out in the hundreds of acres of vacant land available adjacent to the existing airport in line with the original plan of May 2005.

LINK

2006-11-21T06:53:00.000-08:00

Meeting discusses airport expansion plan

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: A high-level meeting held here on Monday apprised K.N. Srivatsava, Joint Secretary in the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, of the urgent need for expanding the Chennai airport and exploring the possibility of having a green field airport.

The 30-minute meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy.

The Joint Secretary was informed about the possible displacement of people at Cowl Bazaar and Pozhichalur on account of the expansion. Since the matter was pending before court, the State Government wanted the Airports Authority of India, Chennai, to find ways and means of re-aligning the expansion of the airport at the Pallavaram end of the main runway.

The meeting also considered alternative sites for further expansion of the airport, and for the green field airport.

A technical committee of senior officials of the AAI Planning Wing, New Delhi, and Operations, Chennai, is being set up to assist the State in providing technical guidance for putting the expansion project on the "fast track mode".

P. Seth, Member (Operations), AAI, New Delhi; Dinesh Kumar, Chennai Airport Director; K. Ramalingam, Southern Regional Executive Director of AAI, Chennai; and State Transport Secretary Debendranath Sarangi attended the meeting.

Later, Mr. Srivatsava visited the Air Traffic Services complex situated near the Chennai airport.

LINK

2006-11-19T21:40:00.000-08:00

2006-11-16T20:57:00.000-08:00

A WebSite for a Cause

This Website was planned and executed in public interest. It is aimed on saving thousands & thousands of people living in and around Pozhichalur, Chennai.

HELP ! SAVE POZHICHALUR HOUSES.

2006-11-12T07:03:00.001-08:00

Chennai Airport expansion project

Top officials in city on secret mission

NT Bureau
Chennai, Nov 12:
Close on the heels of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's recent assertion that Chennai International Airport expansion work would begin soon, senior officials from New Delhi are in the city to assess, analyse and prepare a final blueprint to quicken the expansion project.

Informed sources today said that the officials are in a covert mission because of the stiff opposition from people who would be hit by the proposed expansion project.

The preliminary works are said to be already underway for the expansion cum upgradation project of the city airport.

The Chennai Airport expansion project kicked up a lot of political mudslinging and strong opposition from people of Pallavaram, Kaul Bazaar, Pozhichalur, Pammal and Anakaputhur as they would have to be evacuated for the project.More than 10,000 houses, 14 higher secondary schools, 26 places of worship and scores of buildings belonging to commercial establishments are there in these areas and these would have to be razed down to facilitate the expansion under the original proposal.

However, in the wake of rising opposition, the incumbent DMK government reiterated that the scheme would be remodelled so as not to displace the tens of thousands of families in the southern suburbs.

An alternate site measuring about 1467 acres on the northern side of the airport has also been identified for the purpose.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister who was here recently to inaugurate the National Automotive Research Centre stated that work would begin soon for the city's airport expansion project.

As a sequel, PA Sharma and Subash Chand were deputed on behalf of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Civil Aviation department to analyse all the aspects (including technicalities like number of runways, location of air traffic control tower and other buildings) and report before 3 December, informed sources said.

The officials have also been provided with a team of staff to assist them in carrying out the preparatory works in the city, sources added.

The Chennai airport's upgradation on par with world-class international airports was a long felt need in view of burgeoning passenger and cargo traffic year after year.

The decades-old current infrastructure was felt to be inadequate and unsuitable to handle increasing passenger and cargo traffic, besides building a better security net in and around the airport area.

LINK

2006-11-06T15:50:00.000-08:00

Chennai airport expansion

No more home sweet home

NT Bureau
Chennai, Nov 6:

However mixed was the reaction to the plan on expansion of the Chennai airport, the government has gone ahead with the work and it is expected to kick off from 30 November. All preparatory works have commenced to bring domestic and international airports under one roof.

Sources say as a result of the project, over 10,000 houses, 14 high schools and 26 places of worship at Kowl Bazaar, Pammal, Anakaputhur and Pozhichalur would be brought down.

The air traffic at the Chennai airport has considerably risen. Hence a need to expand the airport was felt. The Central government decided to acquire land in areas such as Kowl Bazaar, Pozhichalur, Pammal and Anakaputhur for the expansion purpose.

Residents of the areas were up in arms and protested the decision to acquire their lands. They even organised human chain protests and fast condemning the Centre�s decision.

It may be recalled that the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa assured the Centre of providing 1,467 acres of land which would not affect the residential colonies around the Chennai airport. However post-Assembly election, things changed with DMK assuming power in the State.

In fact, while taking part in a function at Sriperumbudur last week, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh announced that the Chennai airport expansion project would commence soon.

Sources say a detailed report with map has been prepared by the authorities for implementing the project and work is to commence beginning 30 November.

Also, plans were on to conduct a Bhoomi Pooja before the beginning of Tamil month Margazhi. Also, reports indicate tenders would be floated for the project within three months.

The Centre would identify the area for construction for the airport and acquire lands and it is the role of the private firm to complete the construction.

It may be noted that an airport was constructed at Nedumancherry in Kerala with private-public co-operation.

LINK

2006-10-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

TEHELKA UNCOVERS THE DEVIOUS PLANS ON CHENNAI AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECT.

GROUND TURBULENCE IN TN
AIRPORT EXPANSION THREATENS TO WIPE OUT CHENNAI SUBURB

Pozhichalur residents say land acquisition was changed to suit land sharks, politicians and hoteliers

PC Vinoj Kumar
Chennai

The proposal to demolish hundreds of houses in a middle-class colony for the expansion of the Chennai airport has drawn out even housewives and children to protest on the streets. Tension prevails in Pozhichalur, Anagaputhur, Cowl Bazar and Pammal areas adjoining the airport, where the government has proposed to acquire about 1,457 acres for extending the airport. The chosen suburb is very much part of the city today. An estimated 30,000 people are likely to be displaced if the project is implemented in its present form. About 4,629 houses, 14 schools, eight government buildings, 23 temples, two churches and a ration shop would have to be razed under the plan.

Most homes have been built on government-approved layouts. Families have constructed houses on bank loans and retirement benefits. The government did not prohibit development in the area and consequently new houses were mushrooming at a frenzied pace till recently. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CDMA) continued to grant permission for the buildings. So, the government order earmarking the area for the airport project early this year came as a rude shock to residents. In March, an order was passed freezing building activities in the area.

“We built the house about a year ago, spending our life savings on it. We are not going to surrender our homes to the government. The airport will be built only over our dead bodies. The government is creating terrorists by its senseless acts. If I didn’t have a son, I would have become one,” says Jamuna, a resident of Pozhichalur. There are others in the colony who share her view. Families are threatening to commit mass suicides, if the government decides to go ahead with the project. “The bulldozer has to mow down the house along with my family. We would rather die in the house than be homeless,” says Parameshwari, who has two daughters of marriageable age. Their only asset is their house.

OVERVIEW

Almost 30,000 people are likely to be displaced if the project is implemented in Pozhichalur and its neighbourhood

Families have built houses through bank loans and by investing their retirement benefits

In March, the state government passed an order freezing building activities in the area

Plan for greenfield airport in the outskirts of the city have no takers

The question that everyone’s asking is, why didn’t the government warn the people of the project when they registered land or at least when they sought building permission. The government’s action in announcing the project without even consulting the people is seen as a move that is “anti-people” and “undemocratic”.

Residents have staged several agitations demanding that the project be scrapped. Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan participated in a recent agitation and stated that the State had to consult the people at the grassroots, whether it be a dam or an airport. “Projects should be approved only after people were convinced about the cost, minimal impact on environment and factors relating to vested interests,” she said at a public meeting.

Thousands turn up at the protest meetings which are organised frequently. Emotions usually run high at the meetings. “If you destroy our homes for thesake of the airport, the airport itself will be destroyed,” a lawyer said at a meeting.

Many feel that the project itself is short-sighted and lacks vision. One of the residents, JP Mohandas, a post-graduate from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, has even prepared a set of alternative plans for the government after consulting experts. “While depriving the legitimate holdings of a sizable number of people, it should be seen whether the expansion would meet the requirements of the airport for another 50 years or so. The present airport cannot cater to the projected air traffic in Chennai even after a few years, in spite of the proposed parallel runway and expansion.” He points out that “the argument that land has to be acquired in public interest will not be tenable if alternate solutions are available”.

Nobody is disputing that passenger traffic at the Chennai airport has grown exponentially. The Anna International Terminal handled 2.6 million passengers in 2005-06, compared to 2.4 million passengers the previous year. The growth was more significant at the Kamaraj Domestic Terminal, thanks to the introduction of several low-cost carriers. From 3.2 million passengers in 2004-05, it handled 4.2 million passengers in 2005-06, an increase of 29.1 percent.

Though everyone speaks of the need to do something to handle the growing air traffic, very few experts think expanding the existing airport would solve the problem. On the other hand, there is overwhelming support for establishing a greenfield airport on the outskirts of Chennai, similar to ones being set up in Bangalore and Hyderabad. Mohandas has also suggested four locations near Chennai where a greenfield airport could be established.

Mohandas’ report points out the “operational handicaps in the proposed plan”. The Chennai airport operation is restricted to a “congested traffic environment” because of activities in Tambaram Air Force base, Arakkonam Naval Base, and the new Sriperumbudur Commercial training facility, says the report. It states: “The design (of the expansion plan) is technically poor and does not propose rapid exits or parallel taxiways and is certainly not in line with modern airport design thought.”

Apart from the alleged flaws in the plan, residents also suspect foul play in selecting land for the project. Authorities planned to acquire land on another side of the airport initially, according to D. Selva Rajan, president of the Federation of Pozhichalur Residents’ Welfare Associations. He says that in a letter dated May 25, 2005, to C. Santhanam, Member Secretary, CDMA, Rameshram Mishra, Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) had stated that land for the project was falling in “Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Tharapakkam, Tandalam, Kovur, and Perpanicheri and Cowl Bazar villages.” There was no mention of Pozhichalur.

But by December new areas had been incorporated, the plan had changed. “We suspect that few bigwigs owning land in some of those villages must have bribed officials to change the plan,” says Selva Rajan. Residents also suspect that a strong ‘hotel lobby’ has met important leaders to push for the project. “The five-star hotels near the airport fear their business would be hit if a greenfield airport is built outside the city,” says K. Jayakumar, secretary of the residents’ association.

The residents have approached all major parties. But nobody has taken up their cause barring the cpm, which is opposed to the project. They had represented the matter to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who remains non-committal. Opinion is said to be divided within the ruling party on the project. While Karunanidhi and senior leader MK Stalin are supposedly in a dilemma, Union minister Dayanidhi Maran is said to be determined to implement the project.

Maran, residents say, was in favour of the project when they called on him recently. “He was against the greenfield airport concept. He assured we would be given ‘heavy’ compensation, and said we would be relocated with all amenities, but we refused to accept his views,” says L. Sivarajan, who led the delegation. Both the area MP and MLA are from the ruling DMK. TR Baalu, area mp and Union Minister of Shipping, was not available for comment, when Tehelka tried contacting him for his views.

Writer’s e-mail: vinoj@tehelka.com

Oct 28 , 2006

LINK

2006-10-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

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MEDHA PATKAR'S SPEECH ON CHENNAI AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECT : VIDEO CLIP :

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2006-10-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

Patkar snubs Chennai airport expansion

Chennai: It is not a common sight where one sees Medha Patkar, leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), shouting slogans in Tamil. But whatever is the language, Patkar’s cause is the same.

The lady was in Chennai to lend her voice to a group of people who are on the verge of losing their homes. They are opposing the Chennai airport expansion plans that is threatening to displace more than 5,000 households.

And though Patkar’s English speech required Tamil translation, her message was clear.

"If Karunanidhi can oppose the divestment of Neyveli Lignite Corporation, with or without vote bank intentions, he can and must oppose a so called development plan that will snatch away homes of so many people,” Patkar said.

The international airport expansion needs 1,400 acres and that space has been identified on the land that is home to people who have spent perhaps their entire life's savings on building their house brick by brick.

“It is our dream house, we have invested our time and money. If they give us compensation or rehabilitation, we don't want it,” a resident of Pozhichalur, Saraswati said.

Patkar had gone on a 20-day hunger strike earlier this year to protest the raising of the Narmada dam height, but doesn't recommend the same method for these residents. She encouraged them to present their alternative plan to the state government.

"You see these people have proper licenses and land papers. They're middle class, not called encroachers like the slum dwellers. They can depend on these things,” she said.

The protests in the form of hunger strikes and human chains, which have been going on for more than six months, have a new dimension to it now. Fifteen residents are standing as independent candidates in the coming local body polls and with Medha Patkar taking up their cause, they hope that it will stop their homes from coming crashing down.

LINK

2006-10-09T14:49:00.000-07:00

Give up present plan of expanding airport, says Patkar

Chennai, Oct. 9 (PTI): Asking the Tamil Nadu government to "give up" the present plan of expanding the city airport or "choose another location", Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar today said "thousands would be affected if the project is implemented" without change.

"Thousands of locals will be displaced if the expansion project is implemented in its present form. However, the damage could drastically be reduced if only the government would agree to take up the expansion on another side of the already existing airport," she said, while addressing reporters here today.

Patkar was here as part of a "campaign yatra" from Mumbai to Kolkata, to create awareness on right to livelihood and housing and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) organised by National Alliance of People's Movement (NAPM).

During the airport expansion, the government's aim should be to minimise displacement or even avoid it wherever possible even while stressing on a "pro-poor" outlook when taking up infrastructure development, she said.

Coming down heavily on the mushrooming of Special Economic zones (SEZs) throughout the country and terming them "land-grabbing", Patkar said that every city was "eating on the land of the poor" with these projects.

"The Tamil Nadu government has decided to take away 5,000 hectares of land for so many SEZs including Kanchipuram and Sriperumbudur. This is not going to generate any employment as promised," she said.

Of this land, only 35 per cent is usually used for setting up productive industries, she charged.

LINK

2006-10-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

Pozhichalur struggle committee members in fray

Staff Reporter

Panel is against land acquisition for airport expansion

TAMBARAM: Three members of the Pozhichalur Struggle Committee, formed to oppose land acquisition for the proposed Chennai airport modernisation, are contesting in local bodies elections.

R. Kannan, 61, and M. Gopal, 35, are contesting in ward no.5 in Pozhichalur village panchayat. They have been assigned `cot' and `jar' symbols. V. Ganesan, 40, is contesting on the `cot' symbol in ward no. 4.

The contestants, who are free from political affiliations, say that if elected, they will voice the committee's cause.

Along with many civic groups, political parties and other organisations, residents of Pozhichalur, Anakaputhur, Pammal and Gowl Bazaar have been staging protests for more than six months. They have charged various government agencies with having changed the original plan of airport expansion.

LINK

2006-09-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

CPM changes line on Chennai airport upgrade
D K Singh / New Delhi September 30, 2006

The party will take up the cause of people likely to be displaced.

With the DMK government in Tamil Nadu opting to side with the UPA government and take privatisation route to modernise the Chennai airport, the CPI(M) has changed its strategy. Instead of taking the government head-on, the party will take up the cause of people likely to be displaced by the proposed expansion of the airport.

CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said the Left would raise all issues relating to privatisation of airports, including the 35 non-metro airports, at the UPA-Left coordination committee meeting on October 4. The civil aviation ministry is planning to invite expressions of interest for modernisation of these metro airports by the end of October.

A group of ministers had earlier decided that the Centre would go by the state governments views on modernisation of the Kolkata and Chennai airports. While the West Bengal government opposed involvement of private players, the Tamil Nadu government is open to the privatisation route, although it is yet to state its stance to the Centre.

Anticipating the DMK government's move, the CPI(M) has changed tactics. Yechury said to many regularised colonies would have too be destroyed expand the Chennai airport.

It will lead to a lot of complication. Our party is of the view that the government should not go for expansion of the Chennai airport. You build your greenfield airport and get the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to modernise the existing airport, he said.

The CPI(M) has also opposed the move for privatisation of the non-metro airports. The government had made a commitment that these airports would be modernised by the AAI, Yechury said.

Yechury said he would put across his party's views to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel ahead of the coordination committee meeting in which the issue would figure prominently.

LINK

2006-09-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

Residents to contest civic polls
Tuesday September 26 2006 09:35 IST

CHENNAI: Protests against the proposed expansion of the Chennai airport for which the government intends to acquire land in Pozichalur, Anakaputhur, Cowl Bazaar and the surrounding suburbs are likely to echo in the October local body polls.

Residents of these colonies, who have raised a war cry against plans to acquire their homes and land, are contemplating fielding their representatives in the elections to take on the nominees of political parties.

In fact, a few residents have already filed their nominations as Independent candidates and others are preparing to seek the support of influential persons in the neighbourhood.

There is a seething anger among them against the alleged apathy of the representatives of the local panchayats in taking up their cause.

According to residents, the panchayat members and the president had failed to alert them on the government plan to acquire land. Besides, they did not play any key role in the agitations organised to oppose the airport expansion move.

Therefore, a cross-section of residents wants to uproot these elected representatives.

"The main plank for local body elections in our area will centre around the airport expansion project. By contesting the elections, we hope to send out a strong statement to politicians," a Pozichalur resident said.

Also in the race will be candidates firmly backed by the Federation of Pozhichalur Citizens' Welfare Association, which has been actively organising public protests and meetings ever since the issue came to light.

Selvaraj, the president of the federation, argued that if the panchayat council was dominated by independent councillors who are opposed to the airport expansion project, it will be easy to gather more support from residents for the protests in the coming months.

At the moment, "there are chinks in the armour. But post-elections, we hope to strengthen our unity," he said.

With the polls around the corner, the mood in Pozhichalur is upbeat.

All that the candidates and other residents believe is that they cannot only intensify their anti- expansion protests, but also do it with more authority should they get elected.

And the aspiring members are not full-time politicians but just office-goers and pensioners.

SOURCE :New Indian Express

2006-09-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

Chennai and Kolkata airport modernisation decision in a month: Patel

Kolkata, Sept 12. (UNI): The Government will take a final decision on the modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports within a month, while the merger of the state-owned Indian Airlines and Air India will be completed by March next, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Monday said.

"We will take a final decision on the modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata within a month," Mr Patel told a press conference after the Consultative Committee meeting here.

His comments came as the process for modernising both the airports had been put on the fast track with the Centre planning to complete consultations with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Governments paving the way for drawing a roadmap.

While Tamil Nadu favours private participation on the line of Delhi and Mumbai and the West Bengal Government wants the work to be done by the AAI.

Mr Patel said Kolkata alone would be needing Rs 2,000 crore for modernisation of its airport.

In August last year, the Prime Minister's Infrastructure Committee had given green signal to the proposed modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports. Finance Minister P Chidambaram also said, while presenting the Economic Survey in February this year that an "in-principle" decision had been taken to modernise the Chennai airport through the Joint Venture route.

Mr Patel, however, said his Ministry was yet to take a final stand on whether the Airport Authority of India (AAI) or private parties would fund the proposed modernisation of these two airports.

To a question, Mr Patel said the Center was awaiting the report from the Consultative Committee for the proposed merger of Air India and Indian Airlines. "However, it will be complete by 2006-07 with March being the cut-off month. Once the work is done, the new entity will turn out to be a profitable organisation," he said.

The merger would be followed by an IPO of the new organisation, Mr Patel said.

Dwelling on the Government's plans, the Minister said the AAI was likely to float bonds to raise funds for the proposed development of airports in 35 non-metro towns, including Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi and Guwahati. The airports would be built in the Joint Venture.

The Civil Aviation Ministry was also working on the proposal for constructing airports at Kannaur, Goa, Pune and Navi Mumbai, he said.

Asserting that there was no immediate need for a second airport near Kolkata, Mr Patel said if the existing facility was upgraded it would be able to handle the increased traffic.

"The West Bengal Government wants a greenfield airport in the State and we do not have any problem as such. But one has to assess the viability of the project, which I think is not very bright at this moment," he said.

Mr Patel said the Consultative Committee, at its meeting put thrust on increasing regional air connectivity, including that in the North-East. "The Government is also on way to constructing an airport near Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh," he said.

With a number of private airlines operating in the North-East, the Civil Aviation Ministry was also trying to increase the number of seats for the region, he said.

LINK

2006-09-06T15:09:00.000-07:00

Pozhichalur residents seek a level-playing field
Tuesday September 5 2006 11:16 IST

CHENNAI: A day after the DMK Government dropped the satellite city proposal to save livelihoods of thousands of villagers, residents of Pozhichalur want the same yardstick to be applied to save their homes from being razed for the proposed airport expansion project.

Despite protests of various forms from the residents here against the airport expansion project, the Chief Minister's assurance in the Assembly recently that the residents would not be affected during the implementation gave a clear indication that the state has no other way but to go ahead with the expansion plan.

Though the agitating residents are firm on continuing with their struggle against the proposal, they, however, see a ray of hope with the government's reversal on satellite city.

''When the government wants to protect the lives of 13,000 villagers residing between Vandalur and Kelambakkam, why can't the same rule be applied to 50,000 people in the verge of being displaced from Pozhichalur, Cowl Bazaar and Anakaputhur,'' asks K Rajagopal, secretary, Endangered Citizens' Forum. He also wondered how could a massive project such as airport expansion be implemented without affecting residents as promised by the Chief Minister.

Pozhichalur residents feel that the PMK, stubborn in its stand to reconsider the satellite city proposal, was instrumental in the state going back on the proposal. They also have met PMK founder Ramadoss and briefed him on the issue days ago and he had promised to take up the issue with the Chief Minister. Residents expect him to take up their cause also.

The residents firmly believe that the Left parties, constituent of the DPA and extending outside support to the DMK Government, would definitely come to their rescue along with PMK.

Already CPI state secretary Tha Pandian has addressed meetings assuring to fight for their cause. ''People come first. Alliances come next,'' he had reiterated.

Greenfield concept, favoured by alliance partners like Communists, is now gaining momentum among residents here, waiting it to be accepted by the state to save their livelihood.

SOURCE : NEW INDIAN EXPRESS,SEP 5,2006

2006-08-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

CM allays fears of public on airport expansion

NT Bureau
Chennai, Aug 24:

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today made a categorical assurance in the State Assembly that residents in the vicinity of the Chennai airport would not be affected as a result of the expansion of the airport.

Speaking after the question hour, CPI member Sivapunniyam, while welcoming the upgradation and expansion of the Chennai airport also spoke about the displacement threat faced by the people residing in Pozhichalur, Anakaputhur, Cowl Bazaar and Pammal areas.

Stating that there were about 4,629 houses, 23 temples, nine overhead water tanks, 14 schools, eight government buildings, two churches and a ration shop in Pozhichalur area, he said over 25,000 people were residing in these areas.

Emphasising that the expansion plan would most certainly hit the poor, he wanted the government to opt for some other areas in the vicinity.

Suggesting the northern suburbs of Avadi and Ambattur for the airport expansion plan, Sivapunniyam wanted implementation of the airport upgradation project without disturbing the common man.

The Chief Minister, in his reply said he would consult the Civil Aviation Ministry and Central government officials and added 'whatever possible it would be done'.

The Chief Minister reassured that the government headed by him would never indulge in any activity which would harm the interests of the common man.

LINK

2006-08-25T03:04:00.000-07:00

MK's assurance on airport expansion
Friday, 25 August , 2006, 12:17

The Civil Aviation Ministry's proposed expansion of the Chennai airport "would not affect" the residents of the areas around it, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi told the Assembly today.

"The proposed expansion of the Chennai airport, to be undertaken by the Civil Aviation Ministry, will in no way affect the poor and the common man," he said, in reply to a question by CPI member Sivapunniyam.

Karunanidhi said the Civil Aviation Ministry would be consulted before the government actually initiated the move.

Earlier, Sivapunniyam said the proposed expansion aimed at upgrading the Chennai airport to international standards, would displace nearly 25,000 people living in Pozhichalur, Anakaputhur and Pammal areas, which had been identified for the expansion.

He also said that instead of displacing these residents, the government could either consider using the uninhabited land in these areas or construct an airport at suburban Ambattur or Avadi.

LINK

2006-08-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

People's Democracy
(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Vol. XXX
No. 34
August 20, 2006
Modernisation At The Cost Of ‘Lesser’ Mortals

U Vasuki

THESE children do not look up with excitement at the aeroplanes whizzing past their skies; if anything, they tremble with fear. These are the ones at Anagaputhur, Pozhichalur, Pammal and Caul Bazaar areas under the South Chennai parliamentary constituency. To the children of these areas, aeroplanes are the cause of distress in their families. Yes, the proposed expansion of Chennai airport (setting up of a new international airport) conceived by the civil aviation ministry is waiting to uproot nearly 5000 houses of poor and lower middle class families in these areas.

It all started in July 2000 when the ministry mooted this proposal and requested the Tamilnadu government for land. Correspondence from March 2005 to September 2005 between the Tamilnadu Industries Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO), Chennai metropolitan development authority, transport department and their branches indicate that 1457 acres of land falling in Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Tharapakkam, Tandalam, Kovur, Periapanicherry and Caul Bazaar will be required for this project and hence all building activities must be frozen. The letters clearly state that this was done as per the instruction of the then chief minister Ms J Jayalalitha. The correspondence quotes the request of the AAI (Airport Authority of India) for land in these areas so as to prepare the notification. Most of these places are vacant sites and therefore there was generally no dissent.

The list of areas changed dramatically through GO MS No. 91 dated December 14, 2005, issued by transport department through its enclosures and land plan schedule. Pozhichalur, Pammal, Anakaputhur and a few other areas were surreptitiously brought into the acquisition list. News about this started leaking in the press from March 2006. The residents of these areas were rudely awakened to the fact that their houses would be razed to the ground. These areas cover 4629 houses, 9 water tanks, 14 school buildings, 8 government buildings, 5 private companies, 23 temples (one among them being the 800 years old Agastheeswar temple) and 2 churches. Apart from this, a large number of people have constructed huts and kutcha houses in poromboke land in the proposed areas. The people were not even formally consulted about it. Exnora (an NGO working on environmental issues) wrote a letter to the chief minister and the prime minister that the proposed site for construction of new international airport is inappropriate and hence should be shifted to Sriperumpudur which has a vast expanse of flat land. But the government did not budge.

In the meantime, residents of Pozhichalur, Anagaputhur, Pammal and Caul Bazaar formed a struggle committee to protect their houses and started a series of protest actions. The men, women and children who have hitherto never participated in any struggle are in the thick of it now. The CPI(M)’s South Chennai district committee is leading the movement and fully backing up the struggle committee fully. The CITU, DYFI and AIDWA have conducted solidarity actions in support of their demand. “We are not against modernisation. But it should be done without dislocating the more than 5000 houses,” said T Nandagopal, secretary of the CPI(M)’s South Chennai district committee. The response of participants in this struggle is a reflection of how a struggle impacts their consciousness. Their resolve has got strengthened in the movement.

The acquisition list contains an area called “Commissioner’s Colony” where the retired policepersons have constructed houses. “Throughout our lives, we have obeyed the orders of the ruling government, but now even our houses do not escape destruction,” some of them lamented.

Many of the residents are suffer from trauma due to it. Loss of sleep, absentmindedness, feelings of dread and terror have become grindingly common. Children complained that elders are always crying and fighting, and that they get scolded frequently, affecting their studies. Those who wanted to sell their houses for various reasons are now unable to do so. Even marriage alliances are not materialising because the houses are going to be lost.

The million-dollar question is: Why was the original proposal altered? While the vacant lands originally marked are still vacant, why are areas with thousands of dwellings and homes being proposed to be acquired now? The lament of a resident succinctly captures this ‘lacuna’: “big industrialists, cine stars, big politicians and real estate owners are not living here. So the government feels that it can get away with acquiring this area and make us refugees in our home state.” So, as a corollary, does it imply that the vacant areas earlier earmarked are owned by ‘higher mortals’? Is that the reason for this shift? The list of owners of vacant sites also confirms this suspicion.

Two cases have been filed in the court and interim stay granted. Nevertheless, the struggle continues in full swing under the red flag. Thousands of residents, mainly women, are in the forefront, hoping that their little homes constructed out of retirement benefits, loans and their blood and sweat will remain with them. The central civil aviation ministry and the newly installed state government should listen to this voice of despair. N Varadarajan, secretary of the CPI(M)’s Tamilnadu state committee, was of the opinion that the DMK government, which made a welcome beginning through its no tax budget proposals, must continue the trend on this issue which has the potential of affecting the lives of thousands of people.

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2006-08-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

Pozhichalur residents present alternative land acquisition proposal

Staff Reporter

Present alternative plan on airport land acquisition

TAMBARAM : A group of residents from Pozhichalur, who went to New Delhi to meet Central Ministers to express their concern over the land acquisition for the proposed Chennai airport modernisation project, has described the visit as only "partially successful."

The residents said they had submitted their alternative proposals for expansion of the present airport and also their plans on how a green field airport could be developed near the city limits without affecting anyone.

They met Union Ministers Praful Patel, Dayanidhi Maran and T.R Baalu, former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, former Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Rajnath Singh, president of the Bharathiya Janata Party.

Residents, who have started a new organisation `Endangered Citizens Forum of Pozhichalur, Anakaputhur, Panmmal and Gowl Bazaar' said Mr. Praful Patel, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, told them that no final decision had been taken and that people would be consulted when the final scheme was drawn up.

Ramalingan, Chairman of the Airports Authority of India, told residents that the central agency had not insisted on land in a particular place for expansion.

Further, the AAI would have no problems in starting a green field airport provided the State Government was able to hand over 3,000 acres of land.

The residents who went to Delhi included L. Sivarajan, K. Rajagopal, S. Ramanujam, R. Srinivasan, K. Ramakrishnan and J.P. Mohandas.

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