The Central government is considering the modernisation of Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore airports. The ministry of civil aviation has initiated action to construct a new terminal building at the Madurai airport for handling 500 passengers.
The Tamil Nadu government is yet to provide the required land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for extension of a runway by 460 meters and strengthening of runway to handle aircrafts of AB-320 and B-737-800 type in Madurai.
Modernisation work in Trichy airport is likely to commence in December this year at an estimated cost of Rs 25.93 crore.
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The minister of state for civil aviation, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said here that works on extension of runway from 1,860 meters to 2,440 meters and strengthening of runway, apron and taxi track would be taken up under the modernisation scheme for operating B-737-800 type aircrafts.
At Coimbatore airport runway would be extended by 700 meters from the existing length of 2,290 meters. The works are expected to cost Rs 42 crore.
The minister said extension of the runway on the western side was held up as the Tamil Nadu government was yet to hand over the required land.