Confederation of Indian Industry team thanks Girija Vaidhyanathan's steps

Coimbatore: After a meeting of stakeholders and officials at the district collectorate here on Saturday, a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) delegation led by Mr M Ponnuswami, vice-chairman, CII Tamil Nadu and Mr S Narayanan, Chairman, CII Coimbatore chapter called on Ms Girija Vaidhyanathan, chief secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, and thanked her for quickening the land acquisition process for the Coimbatore airport expansion and requested her to continue the efforts to complete the process at the earliest.

The delegation also met Dr Mohapatra, chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI) at the Coimbatore International Airport (CIA) and pressed the need for improved cargo facilities, which would be hugely beneficial for the exporters and importers of the western belt of Tamil Nadu. Dr Mohapatra has assured that AAI will take all necessary efforts in improving cargo facilities and making Coimbatore airport a cargo hub.

In order to ensure that land acquisition for the expansion of CIA takes place smoothly, a committee will be formed. Chief Minister will make an official announcement of members of the committee who will negotiate with land owners to come to a settlement. The new committee will also take a closer look at the situation and convey to AAI the quantum of land that is required for expansion works.

Sources said that considering the present situation, AAI is left with two options. Either use the land available to carry out expansion works excluding the runways, or wait for the state government to hand over extra land and then design an expansion plan, sources said.