Protest staged against construction of compound wall for Coimbatore airport

A section of residents from SIHS Colony and nearby areas staged a protest on Friday (October 9), opposing the plan of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to construct the compound wall around the parcels of land acquired for the expansion of Coimbatore International Airport.

The protesters said that around 5,000-7,000 people use the mud road connecting SIHS Colony and Avinashi Road through the lands abutting Coimbatore airport’s expanded area.

With the expansion works under way, officials inspected the area on Friday for the preliminary work to erect barricades for the construction of the new compound wall, blocking the existing road in use. Local residents gathered at the spot and protested against the move.

They wanted authorities to allocate an alternative road between the railway track and the new compound wall.

“If the road is blocked, a person who wants to travel from airport junction to SIHS Colony or nearby areas needs to travel via Singanallur,” said a resident.

Officials, including the Coimbatore south Tahsildar, held talks with the protestors.