CHENNAI: Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has accorded environmental clearance for Phase-2 modernisation of Chennai Airport, which will be carried out within the existing airport premises without the need for additional land acquisition.
According to Chennai airport officials, the passenger capacity after modernisation of proposed phase-2 modernisation will be 30 million per annum.
Costing Rs 2,476 crore, the project involves demolishing and reconstructing the existing old domestic and international terminals with additional 16 million passenger per annum (MPPA) (domestic 10 MPPA and international 6 MPPA). It will ease out congestion during peak hours in both domestic and international terminals, particularly at immigration area.
While saying the ministry was satisfied with the modernisation proposal, Kushal Vashist, Director in Union environment ministry, has issued 33 specific conditions in the environmental clearance that include taking up flood mitigation measures.
During 2015 December rain, Chennai airport was flooded and flight operations were suspended for several days.
In view of this, Airports Authority of India (AAI), which is the project proponent, had been asked to implement the flood control measures recommended by IIT- Madras.