Anaicut Road-NH junction to be shut for airport work

On Saturday, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) put up a new AAI board at the junction of the Vellore – Bengaluru National Highway service road and the Anaicut road, a sign that things are moving toward the airport becoming a reality.   

AAI’s demand that the main approach road be blocked for airport works is expected to be granted soon as a survey for this purpose was completed recently. Once the approach road, which is also a state highway, leading to Anaicut and Asanambut is closed, locals will have to use this road through two diversions, AAI officials said. 

From the Vellore end, a new road near the government ITI to Narasigapuram is to be laid for about 600 metres. On the other side, the Poigai end, an existing 1.5 km road is expected to be spruced up, so that traffic to interior areas is not affected in any way. Airport officials said that the approach road would be blocked for regular traffic but would still be used for airport purposes. 

The AAI’s demand for 55 acres of government poromboke land to extend the runway from the present 850 meters to 1200 meters is expected to come to fruition soon following a recent visit to the site by a team of revenue officials headed by Collector SA Raman. “We expect the land to be handed over within a month as there is no opposition to the move from the local residents,” officials said. 

Opposition to the airport demanding more land resulted in various agitations by the residents in 2014 so that police pickets were posted within the airport. 

With there being no opposition now, police deployment has dwindled to a lone SI at the spot.