Green committee gives nod for Chennai Airport modernisation
Chennai, June 14: The Rs 2,476 crore Chennai Airport modernisation project phase II of Airports Authority of India (AAI) has got the Expert Appraisal Committee's (EAC) nod, subject to taking flood control measures and others, as per the minutes of the meeting held on May 30.
The EAC comes under the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry.
According to EAC, the phase II modernisation of Chennai Airport consists of demolition and reconstruction of old domestic and international terminals; reconstruction of airside corridor for seamless integration; and interfacing provision in the new terminal for future connection of tunnel from satellite terminal.
It also includes augmentation of contact bays; development of multi-level car park; development of integrated common user cargo complex, after demolishing the old unused terminal at Meenambakkam here; and development of contact bays for category E cargo freighters.
The EAC has stipulated that AAI shall implement flood control measures recommended by IIT-Madras like: strengthening the airport compound wall to withstand static and dynamic pressure of the water encountered during floods; resizing and rerouting the internal storm water drains to prevent or minimise surcharging; resizing and rerouting the external storm water drains from Pallavaram and Pammal area into Adyar river externally to minimise the flooding inside the airport area and simultaneously improving the storm drainage infrastructure outside the airport; Adyar river passing through the airport shall be protected without causing any disturbance to the flow.
During the Chennai floods in 2015, the airport was flooded and was shut down for some days till water logging was cleared.
As to the benefits when the project is completed, the airport's total passenger handling capacity would go up to 16 million passengers per annum (MPPA) (domestic 10 MPPA and international 6 MPPA).
A sum of Rs 49.52 crore is planned to be invested on environment protection like development of green belt and others.
The modernisation project is estimated to be completed in 42 months.
Total water required after modernization of the terminal and other buildings would be around 4.1 million litres per day (MLD). The required water shall be sourced from municipal supply, treated water and recycled water and existing tube wells within the airport.
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What was the need to disrespect 82-year-old leader: Priyanka slams PM
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of disrespecting Mallikarjun Kharge by not replying to the Congress president's letter himself, and said it is unfortunate that leaders in the highest positions have rejected great traditions of democracy.
The Congress general secretary said today's politics is full of poison and the prime minister should have set a different example, keeping the dignity of his post in mind.
On Tuesday, Kharge had written a letter to the prime minister and raised the issue of "extremely objectionable" and violent statements by the ruling alliance members targeting Rahul Gandhi, urging him to discipline his leaders.
In response to Kharge's letter to Modi, BJP chief J P Nadda wrote to the Congress president and cited his party's own litany of complaints against the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and other Congress members for their choice of words against the prime minister.
In a post in Hindi on X, Priyanka Gandhi said that in view of the unrestrained and violent statements of some BJP leaders and ministers, Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Kharge wrote a letter to the PM, concerned about the safety of the life of Rahul Gandhi.
"If the Prime Minister had faith in democratic values, balanced dialogue and respect for elders, he would have himself replied to this letter.
Instead, he got a low-level and aggressive reply written by Nadda ji and sent it," she said.
What was the need to disrespect an 82-year-old senior public leader, Priyanka Gandhi asked.
"The tradition and culture of democracy is to ask questions and have a dialogue. Even in religion, no one is above values such as dignity and etiquette," she said.
"Today's politics is full of poison, the Prime Minister should have set a different example, keeping the dignity of his post in mind," Priyanka Gandhi said.
If the PM had respectfully replied to the letter of a senior politician, his image and dignity would have increased in the eyes of the public, she said.
"It is unfortunate that our leaders in the highest positions in the government have rejected these great traditions," Priyanka Gandhi said.
The Congress on Thursday had said Prime Minister Modi must rise above "petty politics" and condemn the actions of the ruling alliance leaders, who targeted Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
The opposition party had asserted the whole world is watching how the ruling BJP is "putting the life of the Leader of the Opposition in danger".
The assertion came in a letter by AICC general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh to Nadda in response to the BJP chief's letter to Kharge earlier.
The opposition party has slammed as "intemperate" and "juvenile" Nadda's reply to Kharge on his letter to Prime Minister Modi flagging "threats" aimed at Gandhi.
