District Collector orders quick disbursement of money for land contributors to expedite Coimbatore airport expansion
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore airport expansion work was carried out during the last AIADMK regime. People in and around the airport who had to sell their lands for the expansion of the airport have reportedly been delayed payment.
Amidst this, the Coimbatore District Collector has ordered to expedite the work of the airport immediately. Coimbatore International Airport currently has a 9,500-ft runway, the length of which must be increased to 12,500 ft. for international and cargo flights to arrive and depart.Hence, additional land is required to carry out various basic infrastructure facilities for the airport.
627.89 acres of land is to be acquired for the expansion of Coimbatore airport. Of this, 134 acres belong to the Department of Defence. 28 acres of outlying land and the remaining lands are residential areas and agricultural lands. Those who have donated land for the airport expansion are demanding additional compensation. Meanwhile, the Government needs about Rs. 2,000 crore to acquire private land.
The acquisition of land for airport expansion has been stalled due to the spread of the second wave of Covid-19 in the district. A meeting regarding the airport expansion work was held at the district administration office on Wednesday evening. The meeting was chaired by District Collector, G S Sameeran and was attended by Revenue Officers Ramadurai Murugan, Asokan (Airport Expansion) and Airport Director Mahalingam.
Speaking at the meeting, the Collector said that the district administration should expedite the disbursement of Rs. 26 crores to those who had sold their land for the airport expansion and take necessary action to acquire the land. Also it was highlighted that the documents for the land from the landowners who received the compensation amount had to be obtained and transferred to the name of the Airport Authority.
"Give tokens to 100 people daily and complete the bond registration quickly. The Government needs to expedite the necessary steps to secure Rs. 1,000 crore as funding from the Government to pay the remaining compensation to the landowners who are to provide land for airport expansion. In addition, 134 acres of land in the possession of the Department of Defence must be transferred to the Airport Authority to obtain proof of non-repudiation. Authorities should take all necessary steps to complete the airport expansion work without delay," reiterated the District Collector.