COIMBATORE: Farmers from Chinniyampalayam have petitioned the district collector to lay a 60-metre Right of Way (ROW) road with 10-metre service roads in blocks falling under the Coimbatore airport expansion area and open it for public use.
They demanded that the existing plan of an open road with service lanes be executed instead of the Airports Authority of India's (AAI's) new plan to construct perimeter walls.
"In a letter written by former Collector Umanath in March 2011 to AAI, he highlighted the issue and suggested that the new road be formed as a four-lane road for airport traffic with service lanes on both sides for residents, similar to the present Coimbatore Airport entry," said R Velumani, convenor of Vivasaayigal Vazhvurimai Padhukapu Iyakkam.
The proposed approach road only connects to the non-operational area of the airport and runs up to an end, he said. "If designed as assured, the airport will get easy access from Tiruchy Road via MG Road in Irugur and the SIHS Colony road. If they construct a wall covering the entire ROW road, it will block two major roads and future development of the surrounding villages."
Residents and farmers of Chinniyampalayam and Irugur, who gave up land for the airport expansion, are opposing AAI's plan to build a perimeter wall on both sides of the proposed 'Approach Road - ROW' from Avinashi Road to the new terminal, saying it will cut off access to remaining lands. They alleged that if the entire 1,917-metre-long, 60-metre-wide approach road is walled off, they will lose connectivity. TNIE had reported the issue on June.
In their petition to the collector, farmers said a 60m ROW road up to the SIHS Colony was promised for public use in the expansion area. Multiple rounds of talks were held earlier between the district administration and landowners to provide fair compensation and ensure road connectivity.
"Despite repeated representations to the state government and district administration, the demand for the road, including 10m service roads on either side, has not been met. Even as talks were on, AAI unilaterally began building a compound wall after digging 10 feet deep, cutting off the 60m ROW road. As the public strongly opposed it, they stopped work temporarily," the petition said.
Referring to a letter dated June 6, 2020, from the AAI chairman to the principal secretary, State Transport Department, the petition said it clearly mentioned 541.89 acres for airport expansion and development, and 63.78 acres for the 60-metre wide ROW.
Farmers said more than 100 acres of agricultural land and residential plots would be affected if road connectivity is blocked by a perimeter wall. It would also cut Irugur-Chinniyampalayam road, Venkittapuram-Irugur road and SST Mill road, which are major links in the area.
"We have already written to AAI regarding this and are discussing issues raised by farmers. We are closely following for updates from the AAI on this," said Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar. Sulur MLA NM Sukumar said he has taken the issue to the district administration.