Coimbatore airport expansion: concerns mount over access to lands, alternative roads

While the 2,200-crore project to expand Coimbatore International Airport is awaiting final approvals to commence, a few people whose lands were acquired for the project are at the mercy of the State government for connectivity to their remaining parcels of land.

Ramesh Chinnasamy (50) of Chinniyampalayam is among the most affected landowners. The government acquired 10 cents belonging to him on the side of Chinniyampalayam – Irugur Road, one of the roads to be cut off with the construction of a compound wall by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) around the rectangular patch of lands for the extension of the runway. Mr. Chinnasamy, who had to demolish his house and 10 rental spaces on the 10 cents, now lives in another house on the remaining 38 cents, access to which also will be cut off with the construction of the wall.

“I have represented this issue to different District Collectors over the years but no one has heeded my genuine concerns. My request to the government now is to acquire the remaining land as well as I cannot develop the property or sell it after the construction of the compound wall. Once the runway is expanded, the touchdown point for aircraft will be very close to my residence. Having cardiac conditions, it will be very difficult to reside here exposed to high decibel noise from aircraft,” said Mr. Chinnasamy, who has moved the Madras High Court seeking acquisition of his remaining land.  

According to residents living along Chinniyampalayam – Irugur Road, this crucial road linking the thickly populated Irugur and Avinashi Road will be cut off at two locations as per the airport expansion plan — one adjacent to the property of Mr. Chinnasamy, where runway is to be expanded, and at another spot through which approach road to the proposed new terminal will be laid. As per airport expansion plan, another key road that links Chinniyampalayam and Neelambur bypass of the Salem Kochi Highway via Venkitapuram will also be cut off when the approach road is further connected to Avinashi Road from a spot opposite to a star-category hotel.

The runway expansion area also cuts SST Mill Road, an access road to about 20 land owners, who together have a total of 25 acres abutting the proposed compound wall. Some of the residents are elderly. Eight landowners like Navaneethakrishnan V., who had to close a medium-scale industry due to the expansion, and Jagannathan Palanisamy, have approached the Madras High Court seeking a 10-metre road around the compound wall to access their property.

“The AAI informed the court recently that it would give two metres in addition to the three metres that is left as vacant space outside the perimeter wall, which can be used to access our properties. We urge the government to acquire land further and provide a 10-metre road around the wall, so that we can at least sell the properties in future,” said Mr. Navaneethakrishnan.

According to Mr. Palanisamy, though hundreds of people are using Chinniyampalayam – Irugur Road on a daily basis, those affected by the land acquisition alone are fighting for right of way. “We are not informed of any alternative plan by the district administration regarding these roads to be cut off,” he said.

Airport Director Mohammad Arif said on Wednesday that AAI has informed the request for additional acquisition to the district administration.

Though the High Court had directed the Collector to convene a meeting with nine petitioners on August 1, it was not held as instructed by the court, they alleged. Affected landowners and residents of Chinniyampalayam – Irugur Road wanted a special committee, preferably an advocates’ committee appointed by the High Court, to inspect the places and realise the ground realities.