Lok Sabha Question No. 13 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-20
Subject: Expansion of Airports in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Gautham Sigamani Pon

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. : 13 (To be answered on the 20 th  July 2023)

## EXPANSION OF AIRPORTS IN TAMIL NADU

## *13. DR. PON GAUTHAM SIGAMANI

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Union Government is considering expansion of airports in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether it is also true that the Union Government is considering to acquire the land owned by the defence and other departments of the Union Government for the purpose; (c) if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Union Government has received any representation from the State Government of Tamil Nadu in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Union Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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(Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia)

Statement  in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 13 regarding

"Expansion of Airports in Tamil Nadu" to be answered on 20.07.2023. (a) to (c): Upgradation/ Modernisation of airports including airports in Tamil Nadu, is a continuous process and is undertaken by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other Airport Developers from time to time depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socio-economic considerations, traffic demand / willingness of airlines to operate to/from such airports. AAI has undertaken development/ expansion of Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Tuticorin and Salem airports in Tamil Nadu. These initiatives encompass several significant enhancements, including the upgrading of passenger terminal buildings, construction of ATC tower cum technical blocks, runway extensions, apron expansion, runway resurfacing, and other related infrastructure improvements. For the development of airports in Tamil Nadu, AAI has requested the Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN) to hand over the requisite land, which comprises land of GoTN, private lands and Defence lands. Out of the total required land, 64.93 acre for Chennai, 627.89 acre for Coimbatore, 89.76 acre for Madurai, 471.48 acre for Tiruchirappalli, 96.77 acre for Tuticorin, 446 acre for Salem and 441 acre for Vellore airport are yet to be handed over to AAI. This includes defence land of 21.2 acre at Chennai, 148.396 acre at Coimbatore and 166.97 acre at Trichy airports. As per National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), 2016, it is the responsibility of the respective State Government to acquire land for airport development, including Defence land. (d) & (e): In a meeting held on 25.11.2021, GoTN had agreed that all the land required from Defence for the development of Chennai, Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli Airports shall be compensated by GoTN as per NCAP, 2016. The GoTN has informed, through a letter dated 20.01.2023, that working permission has been granted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on the defence lands required by AAI near Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, and Coimbatore airports. However, this permission is subject to the condition that the GoTN will provide suitable Equal Value Land (EVL) to the MoD in exchange for the Defence lands. The GoTN has expressed its opinion that the Defence lands may be provided free of cost, considering that both the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and MoD are entities of the Government of India. As per NCAP, 2016, the responsibility to provide land free of cost and free from any encumbrances rests with the State Government.

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