The Hindu : Front Page : Airport expansion work on defence land ordered stopped

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Thursday, Jul 23, 2009
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Airport expansion work on defence land ordered stopped

P. Oppili

CHENNAI: Expansion work at the Chennai airport on land in the possession of the Defence Ministry was stopped last week by the Defence authorities.

A board put up at the site said: “This is Defence Land. All construction activity be halted henceforth till further notice.”

Airports Authority of India officials said that following a meeting with the Chief Secretary, the AAI had entered the 2.99 acres of defence land, part of a 19.24-acre parcel of defence property, in February this year for construction activities. The defence authorities had agreed to the AAI proposal to construct a new building for the defence instead of the existing structure at Pallavaram. Already, the AAI had completed the construction of the new technical office complex and erected signal transmitters on the land by May. The defence authorities had visited the new building, expressed their satisfaction and commended the AAI for completing the work in record time.

Following this, the AAI had approached the defence authorities to take over the building with proper inventory.

The defence authorities had informally allowed the AAI to start the earthwork and clear the bushes on the site, measuring 16.25 acres. However, on July 17 a section of defence authorities entered the project site (measuring 16.25 acres area) with armed personnel and stopped construction at the site.

The AAI authorities have sent a letter to the State government stating that the stoppage of work “would adversely affect” the ongoing mega expansion project.

They also requested the government to invite the defence authorities to attend a review meeting to be chaired by the Chief Secretary in which the AAI Chairman is expected to participate, an officer added.

The AAI officer said that at the meeting in February the local defence authorities had agreed to permit the AAI to start civil works relating to the international terminal expansion, and this fact had been recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

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