Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay’s recent visit to Parandur to support farmers protesting against the proposed Greenfield airport has sparked controversy, with critics accusing him of making uninformed statements and ignoring critical facts about the project. Vijay’s allegations that the DMK government is “anti-people” and his call to relocate the airport have been met with sharp rebuttals, as experts and official reports suggest that his claims are not backed by proper research or understanding of the project’s complexities.

Vijay’s Claims vs. Reality

Vijay, during his visit to Parandur, alleged that the proposed airport would destroy 90% of farmland and 13 water bodies, calling the project “anti-people.“ He also questioned why the DMK, which had opposed projects like the Salem eight-lane expressway and Kattupalli port, was supporting the Parandur airport. However, a closer look at the Airports Authority of India (AAI) pre-feasibility report and the Tamil Nadu government’s decision-making process reveals that Vijay’s statements are either misleading or based on incomplete information.

Why Parandur Was Chosen

The AAI conducted a detailed pre-feasibility study to identify the most suitable site for Chennai’s second airport. The study evaluated multiple locations, including Padalam, Thiruporur, Pannur, and Parandur. Here’s why Parandur emerged as the best option:

Airspace Restrictions: Sites like Padalam and Thiruporur were ruled out due to their proximity to restricted airspace controlled by the Indian Air Force and the Kalpakkam Nuclear Plant. These restrictions would have severely limited flight operations, reducing the airport’s capacity and efficiency.

Land Availability: Parandur offers 5,369 acres of land, which is sufficient for the airport’s current and future needs. In contrast, the Pannur site, which was also considered, has only 4,284 acres and would require additional land acquisition, which is challenging due to existing industries and habitations.

Connectivity: Parandur is strategically located near the upcoming Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway, ensuring seamless connectivity to major demand centers. This makes it a more cost-effective and practical choice compared to other sites.

Fewer Displacements: The Parandur site would displace 1,005 families, significantly fewer than the 1,546 families that would be affected in Pannur. Additionally, Parandur has fewer man-made obstacles, such as high-tension power lines and industrial structures, which are prevalent in Pannur.

Future Development: Parandur’s large tracts of vacant land allow for better planning and future expansion, unlike Pannur, which is near the Sriperumbudur Industrial Area and already densely developed.

Vijay’s Misplaced Allegations

Vijay’s claim that the project would destroy 90% of farmland and 13 water bodies appears exaggerated and lacks substantiation. The AAI report clearly states that the Parandur site was chosen after careful consideration of environmental and social impacts. While land acquisition is always a sensitive issue, the government has emphasized that the project is essential to address Chennai’s growing air traffic demands and boost regional development.

Moreover, Vijay’s comparison of the Parandur airport project to the Salem expressway and Kattupalli port is flawed. The Salem expressway faced opposition due to its environmental impact and displacement of farmers, while the Kattupalli port expansion raised concerns about coastal ecology. In contrast, the Parandur airport project has been meticulously planned to minimize environmental and social disruptions, as evidenced by the AAI’s detailed study.

Political Opportunism?

Critics have accused Vijay of using the Parandur issue to gain political mileage rather than offering constructive solutions. His dramatic visit to the protest site, where he was prevented from entering the village by police, has been seen as a publicity stunt aimed at positioning himself as a champion of farmers. However, his failure to acknowledge the technical and logistical challenges of relocating the airport raises questions about his understanding of the issue.

Aviation experts and urban planners have emphasized that the Parandur site is the most viable option for Chennai’s second airport. They argue that relocating the project to another site, as Vijay suggested, would not only delay the much-needed infrastructure but also increase costs and complicate land acquisition. The AAI report’s findings are based on rigorous technical analysis, and any decision to change the site would require a fresh feasibility study, which could take years.

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In recent developments at Chennai Airport, several airlines have made strategic changes affecting both domestic and international routes. Notably, Air France has decided to suspend operations for the summer schedule, despite favorable load factors. Concurrently, Lufthansa has opted to reduce its frequency to five times, resulting in Hyderabad surpassing Chennai in European seat capacity for the first time.

Moreover, Chennai Airport’s prospects for flights to Vietnam seem dim, as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has replaced Chennai and Kolkata airports with Hyderabad and Bengaluru as the designated Points of Call (POC). This shift in designation may impact the airport’s connectivity to certain destinations.

The aviation landscape at Chennai Airport continues to witness alterations, with Akasa Air announcing the suspension of its lone Mumbai flights. SpiceJet, too, is set to halt operations on routes to Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, and Colombo in the near future. IndiGo has followed suit by discontinuing flights to Muscat, and the airline has not introduced any new destinations from Chennai.

Infrastructure challenges compound the issues, as the demolition of the old international terminal, originally slated for completion by January’s end, remains unfinished. Chennai also stands out with the lowest flight frequency to Delhi among major cities, trailing even behind Pune and Ahmedabad.

Despite the evolving dynamics of the aviation industry, there has been a noticeable lack of expansion initiatives by airlines at Chennai Airport. The cargo sector faces a concerning trend, with declining traffic over the years, in contrast to other airports experiencing growth.

Further exacerbating the situation is the insufficient number of aerobridges for international flights, with only four available. During peak hours, large wide-body planes are forced to park elsewhere, leading to the utilization of buses for passenger transit. These multifaceted challenges underscore the need for comprehensive measures to address the issues facing Chennai Airport and restore its competitiveness in the aviation sector.

Not many would have noticed but what’s happening with Chennai Airport??
Air France suspends operations for summer schedule (even though loads has been very good)
Lufthansa reduces frequency to 5x (With this Hyderabad now has more seats to Europe for the 1st time ever)…

— Chennai Updates (@UpdatesChennai) February 6, 2024

Many on social media pointed out that the it becomes the responsibility of the state government to compete with other states and impress the Centre for better connectivity and infrastructure facilities.

This is what happens when people elect State Governments without any long term vision. Both the present DMK Govt and its predecessor AIADMK Government cannot think beyond lining their pockets. It is the State Government that needs to lobby with the Centre for more connectivity… https://t.co/YMueeOjrVc

— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) February 6, 2024

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The New Integrated Terminal Building of Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 18 July 2023 at 10:30 AM through a video conference.

PM @narendramodi to inaugurate New Integrated Terminal Building of Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair on 18th July

Inspired from nature, the architectural design resembles a shell shaped structure depicting sea & islands

Read here: https://t.co/VH1LVSfyb6 pic.twitter.com/zEu3pjDTmH

— PIB India (@PIB_India) July 17, 2023

Improving connectivity infrastructure has been a major priority for the government, and the inauguration of the New Integrated Terminal Building is a significant step towards enhancing connectivity in the island-union territory. The terminal, constructed at a cost of approximately ₹ 710 crore, will have a total built-up area of around 40,800 sqm and will have the capacity to handle approximately 50 lakh passengers annually. A dedicated apron has also been built at Port Blair Airport, costing ₹80 crore, which can accommodate two Boeing-767-400 and two Airbus-321 aircraft simultaneously, allowing for the parking of up to ten aircraft at a time.

The airport terminal’s architectural design takes inspiration from nature and resembles a shell-shaped structure that represents the sea and islands. The new terminal building incorporates various sustainable features to minimize its impact on the environment. These include a Double Insulated Roofing System to reduce heat gain, skylights that maximize natural sunlight to reduce the need for artificial lighting, LED lighting, and low heat gain glazing.

The terminal also features an underground water tank for rainwater catchment, an on-site sewage treatment plant that reuses 100% of treated wastewater for landscaping purposes, and a 500 KW capacity solar power plant. These elements collectively ensure a minimal negative impact on the environment of the islands. Port Blair serves as the entry point to the pristine islands of Andaman and Nicobar, making it a sought-after destination for tourists.

The expansive New Integrated Terminal Building is expected to increase air traffic and significantly contribute to the growth of tourism in the area. Moreover, it will create new employment prospects for the local community and stimulate the regional economy.

(With inputs from PIB)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly-built Shivamogga Airport in Karnataka and took a walk-through of the facilities.

The new airport is developed at a cost of around ₹450 crore. The passenger terminal building of the airport is spread over 4340 sq. meters and can handle 300 passengers per hour. The Prime Minister’s focus on enhancing air transportation throughout the country will receive further reinforcement with the opening of the Shivamogga Airport.

Remarking on the splendid beauty and construction of the airport, the Prime Minister highlighted the amalgamation of the traditions and technology of Karnataka.  He remarked that it is not just an airport but a campaign where the dreams of the younger generations can take off.

“The new airport is going to open doors of development for Shivamogga, the land of nature, culture, and agriculture”, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister elaborated upon the policies of the government that have led to an unprecedented expansion of the aviation sector. The Prime Minister also mentioned the UDAN scheme for affordable air travel to realize his vision that Hawai Chappal-wearing common citizens should be able to travel in Hawai Jahaj.

”The lotus like new airport is developed at a cost of ₹450 crore. The Passenger Terminal Building of the airport can handle 300 Passengers per hour. Night landing facility is also available at this airport which will start operating soon” said Union Civil Aviation Minister Scindia.

In a series of tweets, the Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia said, “Today, Shri Narendra Modi ji has inaugurated Shivamogga Airport and has given a new height to civil aviation in the country and has opened new doors of prosperity in Karnataka. It is a unique gift for Shivamogga and the entire region on the birthday of the former Chief Minister of the state Shri BS Yeddyurappa ji. It is a matter of pride for the entire country that where there were only 74 airports in the country until 2014, today, after the inauguration of the Shivamogga airport, the number of airports has doubled. Now the total number is 148, which means there has been a 100% increase in the number of airports in the last 9 years.”

The Minister further said, “The Shivamogga Airport is designed like a lotus flower, and it is built at a cost of ₹450 crore. It is suitable for A-320-type aircraft. This airport is spread across 758 acres of land. The night landing facility is also available at this airport which will start after some time.”

The  Prime Minister also laid the foundation for two railway projects, the Shivamogga – Shikaripura – Ranebennur new Railway line and Koteganguru Railway coaching depot, and several road development projects totalling over ₹215 crore. The Prime Minister also unveiled multi-village schemes worth over ₹950 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission and inaugurated 44 Smart City Projects worth over ₹895 crore in Shivamogga city.

(With inputs from PIB)

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Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, MoS, Civil Aviation, General Dr. V K Singh (Retd.) along with Rajeev Bansal, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) virtually flagged off 6 routes expanding the aerial connectivity of North-East India.

The routes commencing operations from today are Kolkata – Guwahati, Guwahati – Aizawl, Aizawl – Shillong, Shillong – Aizawl, Aizawl – Guwahati, and Guwahati – Kolkata.

Dr. R. Lalthangliana, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Higher and Technical Education, Commerce and Industry, Shri. Robert RomawiaRoyte, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services, Tourism and Information and Communication Technologyalong with other important members of the state government joined the event virtually from the Lengpui Airport, Aizawl, Mizoram.

Smt. Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, along with other senior officials of the MoCA were also present at the ceremony held at MoCA.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said, “Mizoram is the gateway to North-East India. The city has an immense amount of importance for its tourism & economic sector. We are committed to giving wings to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of making it possible that every state’s uniqueness must be experienced by all citizens of the country. I assure you, that MoS General Dr. V K Singh (Retd.) and I will personally visit Mizoram very soon.”

The minister further mentioned, “I am delighted to mention the fact that Alliance Air’s most ATR aircraft are deployed on the North-Eastern routes. Today, we are further establishing seamless connectivity across entire North-East India by connecting 4 cities with one flight.  This underlines the due importance given to the North-East by the Ministry of Civil Aviation under the leadership of our Prime Minister. Under the UDAN scheme,we have connected cities that had no mention on the aviation map of the country. We have already started 60 airports, and 387 routes, out of which 100 routes are awarded in North East alone, & 50 are already operational.  Moreover, In 2014, only 6 airports were operational in North East, now we have grown to 15 airports in a short span of 7 years. Therefore, this further highlights the due importance of the North-Eastern states for this government. In addition to this, under the KRISHI UDAN Yojna, we have identified 16 airports to enhance the export opportunities of the region establishing dual benefits of enhancement of cargo movements and exports.”

Today’s flight launch has expanded the aerial connectivity of the North-East by connecting multiple states hitherto not connected via flights. The flight connectivity on these routes has been a long-pending demand of the natives of the regions. Eastern India tempts tourists with wonderful verdant valleys, hilly streams, lush green forests, vast tea gardens, snowcapped mountain peaks, mighty rivers, tribal culture, its colourful fairs and festivals. These flights will open a seamless gateway and smooth aerial access option for nature lovers, travellers, tourists etc. Shillong is surrounded by hills from all sides. The city is famous for the presence of many well-reputed educational institutions, it is the hub of education for entire North-East India. Apart from being the beauty & education centre, Shillong also acts as the gateway  to  Meghalaya,  the  state  famous  for  heavy  rainfall,  caves,  tallest  waterfalls,  beautiful landscapes, and its rich heritage & culture. Aizawl is known as the home of the highlanders & is the seat of a rich tribal cultural extravaganza and is famous for its handicrafts. The town is blessed with exotic natural beauty.

With these new flights, travellers from Guwahati, Aizawl and Shillong will get multiple options for onward connectivity to the rest of the country.

In the constant endeavour to bolster the regional connectivity of the country, the first direct flight on the Tirupati-Delhi route was also started yesterday connecting one of the best heritage cities of the country with the capital of the country.

(Published from PIB)

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Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, MoS, I/C, Civil Aviation virtually joined Shri Yeduguri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh at the  inauguration of the Kurnool Airport, Orvakal, Andhra Pradesh today.  Andhra Pradesh CM attended the inauguration at Kurnool airport along with senior officials and other important stakeholders. Senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) & Airport Authority of India (AAI) also attended the event virtually. Kurnool is the 6th airport in Andhra Pradesh to become functional after Kadapa, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Rajahmundry & Vijayawada.

The flight operations at Kurnool airport will commence on 28th March 2021 under the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN). Direct flight operations to Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai will bring the region closer to the major hubs in the South India. These routes were approved by the MoCA under the UDAN 4 bid process last year. The Government of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh will jointly share the VGF towards the operations on an 80:20 basis. Till date, 56 unserved and underserved airports (including 5 heliports+ 2 water aerodrome) with 325 routes have been operationalised under UDAN across the length and breadth of India.

Kurnool is the judicial capital of Andhra Pradesh and a historical hub of the country. The place is famous for its mighty caves and temples. The city of Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River and, Nallamalas mountain hill range runs parallel. Moreover, Famous tourist spots include Nallamala Forest, Ahobilam, Belum Caves, Mahanandi, Mantralayam, Orvakal, Sangameshwaram, Kethavaram and Kalva Bugga.  This air connectivity will fulfill the aspirations of the people of Kurnool and provide impetus to the local economy and tourism.

(source: PIB)

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