HEAD: 27_Che_VS_In-Principle

Status: Not Approved
Byline: None
Chennai: The in-principle approval for the Parandur greenfield airport is under consultation, and a review meeting is scheduled in New Delhi within two weeks, said Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, after inaugurating the Udan Yatri Cafe at the T1 domestic terminal of Chennai airport on Thursday.
The state already sought clearance for the site, and in-principle approval is the next stage of approvals. On the concerns raised by residents of Parandur regarding land acquisition for the new airport, the Minister clarified that the site selection is a state govt decision, while the central govt's role is limited to feasibility studies and technical clearances. The state govt is responsible for addressing local opposition and land-related concerns.
Efforts are underway to enhance passenger capacity from the current 22 million annually to 35 million as a part of Chennai Airport's expansion, the minister said. "The first phase of Terminal 2 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Phase 2 is currently under construction. The Ministry is also working closely with the state govt to streamline operations and optimise available land for further expansion," he said.
The aviation ministry will study the current state of Chennai's air cargo infrastructure and implement necessary improvements to enhance efficiency. This is in line with the Union Budget's focus on streamlining air cargo services, warehousing, and logistics, he said. The minister also dismissed the speculations of Chennai airport being privatised. "Chennai airport is very close to our heart and an important airport for the Airports Authority of India," he said.
Answering to a question on the proposed airport in Hosur, the minister said the state is yet to approach them for site clearance. A flight connecting Vellore with Chennai will soon start to operate and made an open appeal to flight training organisations to make use of the airports with minimal activity and the airstrip in Ulundurpet for training purposes.
Box: What is available at Udan Yatri Cafe
Chennai: Tea for Rs 10, coffee for Rs 20, samosa for Rs 20 and sweet for Rs 20 — a simple menu of the Udan Yatri Cafe inaugurated at T1 terminal of Chennai airport on Thursday. Chennai airport is the second airport in the country to get the cafetaria outlet after Kolkata.
Union minister said that a constant request from flyers particularly after more people started travelling by air in the last 10 years is the reasonal prices of refreshments at the airport, which led to the idea of Udan Yatri Cafe. "The cafe launched in Kolkata is doing a business of Rs 35,000 per day. We want to create more such cafes in other airports too," he said. The cafe is managed by differently-abled. MSID:: 118601581 413 |