EIA study for airport soon.

Soon, an environment impact assessment (EIA) study will be taken up before the second phase work of Chennai International Airport’s modernisation project begins.

Answering a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said this study would be done to get environmental clearance for the project. A consultant would be appointed to exclusively carry out the study. Apart from this, there will be a separate project management consultant for planning the phase II modernisation of the airport.

A key aspect of the second-phase work includes connecting the international and domestic terminals, making it easy for passengers to access them while switching flights.

The second phase, estimated to cost around Rs. 2,300 crore, will be carried out to increase the capacity of passenger and aircraft movement at the Chennai airport. While the aircraft movement may be increased from 29 per hour to 40 per hour, the passenger movement capacity may be increased to 30 million a year. Phase II will also have see expansion of domestic and international terminals and merging them into one; installation of solar panels and construction of multilevel car parking. This project may take at least two to three years to be completed.

The new terminals were commissioned only in January 2013, after many years of delay. But even after three years, the arrival hall of the new international terminal is yet to be commissioned owing to lack of Customs staff.

THE HINDU