Fri Apr 25 14:10:12 UTC 2025: **Tiruchirappalli Airport Expansion Nears Completion After Land Deal**
TIRUCHIRAPPALLI, INDIA (April 25, 2025) – The expansion of Tiruchirappalli International Airport is moving forward after the state government finalized a land transfer agreement with the Ministry of Defence. The agreement, signed earlier this month, involves the transfer of approximately 167 acres of Defence land, paving the way for the airport’s runway extension to 12,000 feet.
This expansion, originally planned in 2010-11, will allow the airport to accommodate larger, wide-bodied aircraft. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had initially requested 500 acres for the project. While the state government has already acquired approximately 99% of the necessary land, with only three hectares remaining, they plan to complete this acquisition soon. In exchange for the Defence land, the state government will provide land of equal value.
Airport Director S. Gnaneswara Rao confirmed that the acquisition process is nearing completion, with a boundary wall planned for the newly acquired land. Construction is expected to begin soon after. He also noted that the only remaining hurdle is the transfer of some government land.
Tiruchi MP and chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee, Durai Vaiko, stated that the “enter upon permission” for the land was granted last October, allowing the AAI to proceed with expansion plans. He further confirmed that the land acquisition is almost complete.
The expansion follows the commissioning of a new terminal last year and the ongoing construction of a new ₹60 crore Air Traffic Control Tower, scheduled for completion by December.
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