Sun Nov 16 15:38:18 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten news article:
Summary:
Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, T.R.B. Rajaa, is urging the Union government to expedite airport development in the state to keep pace with its rapid industrial and economic growth. He highlights the need for operational clearances for completed or near-ready airports like Vellore, Neyveli, Salem, and Thanjavur, and stresses the importance of expanding scheduled services, particularly at Salem airport. Progress is being made on greenfield airports at Parandur and Hosur, but the minister emphasizes that more functional airports are crucial for Tamil Nadu’s continued growth. He specifically cites delays in operationalizing ready airports, hindering regional accessibility.
News Article:
Tamil Nadu Official Urges Union Government to Accelerate Airport Development Amidst Economic Boom
Chennai, India – November 16, 2025 – Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, T.R.B. Rajaa, today called on the Union government to prioritize and expedite airport infrastructure development in the state, citing rapid economic and industrial growth that risks being hampered by connectivity bottlenecks.
Speaking with reporters, Minister Rajaa emphasized the urgent need for operational clearances for several completed or near-ready airports, including Vellore, Neyveli, Salem, and Thanjavur. He highlighted the increasing passenger traffic and the emergence of new industrial clusters across the state, necessitating a faster pace of airport expansion.
“A State of our scale needs many more functional airports, and we urge the Union government to match Tamil Nadu’s pace so that connectivity does not become a bottleneck for growth,” Rajaa stated. He particularly underscored the need for additional scheduled services to Chennai and Madurai from Salem airport to meet rising passenger demand.
While acknowledging progress on greenfield airport projects in Parandur and Hosur, the Minister expressed concern over delays in operationalizing already completed facilities. He specifically mentioned the Vellore RCS Airport, where infrastructure is complete and personnel trained, yet flight operations remain stalled. A similar situation persists at the Neyveli RCS Airport.
Rajaa also detailed the state government’s commitment to airport development, including land identification and approval for an approach road at the Thanjavur Civil Enclave and proposed greenfield airport project in Ramanathapuram.
The call for accelerated airport development comes as Tamil Nadu experiences a significant economic surge, emphasizing the crucial role of efficient air connectivity in sustaining its growth trajectory.