TAMIL NADU'S REGIONAL AVIATION SURGE

Tamil Nadu is set for an aviation boom, with upgrades to key regional airports and plans for new facilities like the Hosur and Parandur airports. These developments aim to enhance connectivity, boost economic growth, and attract trade and tourism across the state, writes RASHEED KAPPAN

- RASHEED KAPPAN

Tamilnadu is in the thick of aviation action, illustrated in no small measure by the government's eagerness to build an international airport in its in dustrial hub, Hosur. As the State has already begun location-scouting in the areas close to its Karnataka border, a multi-pronged approach to boost regional aviation across Tamilnadu is now underway. An aviation boom of sorts awaits the State over the next five years.

The Hosur airport plan is part of a larger roadmap to enhance regional air connectivity and economic development, ensuring distributed growth. Airports in Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Madurai, Thoothukudi and Vellore are all set for substantial upgrades, as the focus is clearly on attracting trade, tourism and investment.

Hosur airport in six years

A greenfield airport in Hosur has a Bengaluru problem. It is within a radius of 150 km from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and thus comes into conflict with the airport operator BIAL’s Concessionaire agreement with governments that no such facility be allowed. But this agreement has a timeframe, and Tamilnadu wants to start the process now to operationalise a new airport six to seven years from now.

In June 2024, Tamilnadu Chief Minister M K Stalin had announced that the airport would be built on nearly 2,000 acres of land With an annual capacity of 10 crore passengers. Besides catering to the huge industrial complex of electronics and electric vehicles in the Hosur region, the airport is expected to boost socio-economic development in the adjoining Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had submitted reports to the government on the five locations identified for the airport. An industry watcher informs that the State will now shortlist two and undertake a detailed study before zeroing in on the final location.