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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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
