Parliament Question: Expansion of Airport Infrastructure in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3054 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6th August 2026 ) EXPANSION OF AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IN TAMIL NADU 3054. SHRI SELVAM G DR. RANI SRIKUMAR SHRI C N ANNADURAI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether the Government has undertaken or proposes to undertake expansion, modernization and capacity enhancement of airports in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof, airport-wise; (b) the details of the projects approved or under consideration including new terminals, runway expansion, passenger amenities, cargo infrastructure and improved air connectivity along with the expected timeline fixed for completion; (c) the likely impact of these airport expansion projects on regional connectivity, tourism, trade, investment and employment in Tamil Nadu; and (d) the further measures proposed to strengthen aviation infrastructure and enhance air connectivity across the State? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) & (b): Upgradation, modernization and capacity enhancement of existing airports is a continuous process and is undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other airport operators from time to time based on passenger demand forecasts, operational requirements, demand from airlines, availability of land, financial viability, statutory and regulatory clearances, and other site- specific factors. Major expansion and development works at airports in Tamil Nadu include: Chennai Airport: Phase-II modernization at a cost of 2,467 crore to enhance passenger handling capacity from 30 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) to 35 MPPA, along with storm water drain modification (209.01 crore),refurbishment of Terminal-1 (81.80 crore) and development of airside infrastructure (480.06 crore). Tiruchirappalli Airport: Construction of a New ATC Tower-cum-Technical Block at a cost of 80.17 crore. Coimbatore Airport: Construction of the boundary wall on newly acquired land at a cost of 51.31 crore and addition and alteration to the existing terminal building at a cost of 13.71 crore. The timeline for completion of the airport projects depends upon many factors such as land acquisition, availability of mandatory clearances, financial closure etc. (c) & (d): International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) study titled 'Economic Benefits of Civil Aviation: Ripples of Prosperity', shows that the air connectivity has an economic multiplier of 3.25 and employment multiplier of 6.1. In the state of Tamil Nadu, Salem Airport has been developed and operationalised whereas Vellore and Neyveli are being developed under the UDAN Scheme. The next phase of the scheme includes development of 100 airports, connecting 120 destinations across the country including Tamil Nadu. ******