The Airports Authority of India began construction of the plaza and landscaping in mid-2023 and planned to complete the works by October 2024. But the project has been marred by delays. Photo: File
| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
After a year’s delay, the landscaping work and construction of the plaza at Chennai airport is likely to be completed in October.
This is significant because a second pick-up point for cabs will be located in this space. Hence, passengers will not have to walk till Aerohub (multi-level car parking facility) to catch a cab. In the first week of October, one lane will be available for vehicle entry at the plaza.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) began construction of the plaza and landscaping opposite the Domestic Terminal 1 (T1) in mid-2023 and planned to complete the works by October 2024. The space was set to have walkways and seating areas and was being developed with the idea of providing a space to relax for both visitors and passengers.
However, the project has been marred by delays since the very beginning. Initially, the contractor could not get access to the site on time as there was some issues in handing over the space to the firm. Subsequently, when a canopy collapsed at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1 in June 2024, a structural audit of the existing canopies was carried out at Chennai airport and design specifications of the new canopies planned at the plaza were changed.
“There were delays in getting the designs finalised. Then, we had to procure them and have them delivered to the Chennai airport. Now, all the materials are in place, and the work is progressing at a faster pace. One part of the plaza will be ready in early October and the rest by the end of that month,” an official said.
Since January this year, though the AAI has been targeting multiple completion dates for the project, but the contractor could not meet any of the deadlines.
The incessant delay in opening the plaza has upset many air passengers. A. Shankar, a regular flyer, said it was disappointing to see such a small project being delayed to this extent. “This work has a direct impact on the passengers. Because of this delay, we are forced to go all the way to the Aerohub to board cabs, and this is definitely not a convenient way to do that,” he added.
Published – September 05, 2025 07:07 pm IST
