After several adjustments, the acquisition efforts focused on 633 acres comprising 468.83 acres of titled land, 134.32 acres of defense land, and 29 acres of wasteland. To date, 403.29 acres of titled land and 21 acres of wasteland have been acquired.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Airport, currently international only in name, is on the verge of a significant expansion that could enable it to operate international flights. This expansion requires the acquisition of 643 acres of land, a directive issued by the government in 2010. After several adjustments, the acquisition efforts focused on 633 acres comprising 468.83 acres of titled land, 134.32 acres of defense land, and 29 acres of wasteland. To date, 403.29 acres of titled land and 21 acres of wasteland have been acquired.
The Coimbatore Collector, in September last year, issued a procedural order to commence airport expansion works on 558.87 acres, including the defense department's land. However, the Airports Authority of India declined to accept the land due to conditions imposed by the Tamil Nadu government.
Amidst looming Lok Sabha elections, the delay in the airport's expansion has sparked intense debates in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, with concerns raised over its impact on the development of the Kongu region. Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan criticized the delay, accusing the state government of handing over government-acquired land to private entities, a claim countered by the Industry Minister Raja, who sought support for the government's decision.
The government's directive aims to complete the acquisition of the remaining 32.80 acres of titled land by March 31, with 10.22 acres of public utility land posing no issue. The acquisition of the remaining 22.58 acres is underway under sections 7(2) and 7(3) of the Land Acquisition Act by the Revenue Department.
Out of the allocated Rs. 2,088 crore 92 lakh for land acquisition, Rs. 1,819 crore 20 lakh has been disbursed as compensation, leaving a balance of Rs. 269 crore 72 lakh. Despite the government's directive to complete land acquisition by March 31, the central government has refused to accept these conditions, leading to a standoff that delays the expansion project.
The question of when the expansion will begin remains unanswered, mired in the complexities of central-state government relations and bureaucratic hurdles. The allocation of funds for the expansion has been a contentious issue, with significant allocations made only during the ADMK's tenure from 2016-2021, following a period of inaction.
The Coimbatore Collector, in September last year, issued a procedural order to commence airport expansion works on 558.87 acres, including the defense department's land. However, the Airports Authority of India declined to accept the land due to conditions imposed by the Tamil Nadu government.
Amidst looming Lok Sabha elections, the delay in the airport's expansion has sparked intense debates in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, with concerns raised over its impact on the development of the Kongu region. Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan criticized the delay, accusing the state government of handing over government-acquired land to private entities, a claim countered by the Industry Minister Raja, who sought support for the government's decision.
The government's directive aims to complete the acquisition of the remaining 32.80 acres of titled land by March 31, with 10.22 acres of public utility land posing no issue. The acquisition of the remaining 22.58 acres is underway under sections 7(2) and 7(3) of the Land Acquisition Act by the Revenue Department.
Out of the allocated Rs. 2,088 crore 92 lakh for land acquisition, Rs. 1,819 crore 20 lakh has been disbursed as compensation, leaving a balance of Rs. 269 crore 72 lakh. Despite the government's directive to complete land acquisition by March 31, the central government has refused to accept these conditions, leading to a standoff that delays the expansion project.
The question of when the expansion will begin remains unanswered, mired in the complexities of central-state government relations and bureaucratic hurdles. The allocation of funds for the expansion has been a contentious issue, with significant allocations made only during the ADMK's tenure from 2016-2021, following a period of inaction.