CMRL unlikely to build airport tunnel.

The Chennai Metro Rail may not carry out the work for the proposed tunnel that will link a new satellite terminal with existing terminals at the Chennai airport.

Officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said they would call for a tender soon and that the contractor who is awarded the work would construct both the terminal and the tunnel. Initially, officials said, it was planned that the Chennai Metro Rail would build the tunnel, but now it is not clear why the plan was changed.

“Chennai Metro Rail can participate in the tender process and take up this work if chosen. We want to start this work soon,” an official said.

However, officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited said they were not aware of the development.

The AAI plans to build a satellite terminal and a tunnel, as the existing terminal is getting congested and saturated.

The tunnel will connect the existing domestic and international terminals of the airport with the satellite terminal - which will be located between the main and secondary runway and also close to the remote bays (additional bays in the apron for aircraft).

“This will be a small terminal and will have just three conveyor belts and other basic facilities. For instance, when a passenger comes to the domestic terminal, he will complete the security procedures here and head to the satellite terminal through a tunnel; his baggage will reach the terminal through another tunnel. And when a flight arrives, the baggage will be delivered immediately to the satellite terminal and the passenger can collect it quickly,” he added.

This apart, the Chennai airport has a series of infrastructure work to be carried out, including the construction of an integrated terminal and other runway-related works.

THE HINDU