CHENNAI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is close to finalising the acquisition of 19.06 acres, currently held by Air India Assets Holding Limited (AIAHL), at Chennai International Airport for Rs 278 crore to ease congestion at the cargo terminal, airport director M Raja Kishore said on Thursday.
The move comes amid complaints from exporters and freight forwarders about waiting times of several hours at AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Ltd (AAICLAS), which handles cargo at the airport. Traffic restrictions on heavy vehicles entering the city during peak hours have added to the problem, with trucks having to wait outside the cargo terminal.
Once the land is transferred to AAI, it will be used as a parking area for cargo trucks that currently queue outside the terminal buildings. A token system will be introduced to regulate the entry and exit of trucks, Kishore said.
Terminal 5 connectivity
Separately, officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) and Anna University met AAI representatives on Wednesday to present findings on a proposed elevated corridor connecting the airport’s planned Terminal 5 to National Highway 32.
Raja Kishore said AAI officials discussed the proposed pillar foundations with WRD officials, particularly how the pillars could be constructed without affecting the flow or course of the Adyar river. An earlier IIT Madras study had cleared the original alignment.
However, the WRD-Anna University review has raised additional concerns related to land acquisition, prompting planners to reconsider the alignment, Raja Kishore said. Raja Kishore also clarified that the technical findings were part of an independent study by WRD and Anna University. AAI’s role was limited to seeking connectivity for the terminal, he said.