Tail wind for Trichy airport expansion

Intense lobbying at the Centre by several groups such as industrialists' associations, educational institutions and other groups from the central regions to expand the Trichy International Airport appears to be yielding result. Union minister of civil aviation P Ashok Gajapathi Raju is arriving in the city on Friday and is expected to be here for two days.

The minister will hold meetings with the departments concerned to review the city's infrastructure developments. He will also meet MPs and revenue officials.

The airport has been asking for land from the state government. According to airport sources, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) members have been lobbying for the expansion of the airport as several issues were hindering its progress. At a recent meeting held at the airport, revenue authorities said a detailed report was pending at the top level of the state government for administrative sanction on land acquisition and reminders were being sent regularly. The members hoped that the process will get over soon.

A total of 345.64 acres at the far end of the airport, along the runway, which were identified as wet, dry and poromboke lands are being acquired.

The travel federation is also expected to make a detailed presentation to the minister.

Lack of domestic carriers flying to the airport is also a major concern, says M. Sekaran, president, Air, Rail and Road Travellers Federation here.

"The Air India Express should restore its service to Mumbai. It used to be operated biweekly to Mumbai from Tiruchirappalli with an average occupancy of 70%," he said.

A private airline has express its willingness to operate flights from Tiruchirappalli to Bangalore and is waiting for clearance from the authorities. This will be brought to the attention of the federation.