Collector inspects 55-acre site for Vellore airport

A high-level team, led by collector S A Raman and district revenue officer G Sengottayan recently inspected the site, a government ‘poromboke’ land, identified for the project.   

AAI regional executive director P J Sreekumar told DT Next that the ‘obstacle survey’ had been completed and a report was likely to be submitted by early April. (The survey is mandatory before commencement of work on an airport).  

“Following this, a detailed project report (DPR) will be drawn up” he said. 

Asked if the survey had mandated any changes, Sreekumar said, “the approach road to the airport from Chennai-Bangalore national highway either had to be closed or diverted for nearly half a km beyond the Vellore airport entrance, otherwise it will interfere with the runway’s approach funnel.” 

Regarding landing facilities for aircraft, he said, “This will depend on the airport stabilizing itself once it becomes operational. Only manual and visual landing will be possible for the time-being. Putting up lights along the runway for night landing will require additional land.” 

Sreekumar said the airport initially would have daytime facility due to the above reason. 

“Also, as only small, 20-seater aircraft, are planned for now, advanced facilities like ILS (instrument landing system), meant for aircraft like Airbus 320, are not required,” he said. 

The Vellore airport work assumes significance in the wake of the inauguration of flight services between Salem and Chennai by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami in Salem on Sunday. The CM had stated that flight services would commence from Vellore and Tanjavore districts under the Udan scheme. 

The Salem and Vellore airports were not ‘operational’ for a long while and flight operations at the former recommenced after seven years. 

The CM had said it was in the state government’s programme to expand the operations of the Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Thoothukudi and Tiruchy airports. Land acquisition was underway for this.