**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4724, concerning the expansion of Madurai Airport, answered on August 21, 2025. The response addresses the current status of the proposed international terminal expansion, land acquisition for runway extension, and timelines for upgrading critical infrastructure.
The existing integrated terminal building at Madurai Airport has a capacity of 2.9 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) and spans approximately 17560 sqm. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has requested 653.35 acres of land from the State Government of Tamil Nadu for comprehensive airport development. This development includes extending the runway from 2285 meters to 3810 meters to accommodate Code E aircraft, developing a runway strip, apron, parallel taxi track, terminal building, and cargo terminal. As of the date of the response, 543.41 acres of the required land have been handed over to AAI by the State Government.
The completion timeline for the airport project is contingent upon land acquisition, regulatory clearances, obstacle removal, and financial closure by the airport developers. The response also references the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, which stipulates that land for airport development is to be provided by the respective State Government/Union Territory Administration to AAI free of cost and free from encumbrances. The expansion and upgradation of airports are continuous processes undertaken by AAI and other airport operators based on land availability, commercial viability, socioeconomic factors, traffic demand, and airline willingness.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for the formulation of national policies and programs for the development and regulation of the Civil Aviation sector.
Shri S Venkatesan: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the unstarred question regarding the expansion of Madurai Airport.
Madurai Airport: An international airport located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, which is undergoing proposed expansion.
Shri Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Airports Authority of India (AAI): An organization responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.
State Government of Tamil Nadu: The state government responsible for providing land for the expansion of Madurai Airport.
National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016: A policy document that outlines the framework for the development of the civil aviation sector in India.
CodeE type of aircraft: A category of aircraft that Madurai Airport aims to accommodate with the runway extension.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4724
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st August 2025 )
EXPANSION OF MADURAI AIRPORT
4724. SHRI S VENKATESAN
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the current status of the proposed expansion of international terminal at Madurai Airport;
(b) whether land acquisition has been completed for the expansion of the runway to
accommodate larger international flights and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the timeline fixed for upgrading critical infrastructure such as taxiways, cargo terminals
and passenger lounges at Madurai Airport?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar
Mohol)
(a) to (c): The expansion and upgradation of airports is a continuous process and is
undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other Airport Operators from time to
time depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socio-economic
considerations, traffic demand / willingness of airlines to operate to/from such airports.
;
The existing Integrated Terminal Building at Madurai Airport spans an area of approximately
17560 sqm and is capable of accommodating 2.9 Million Passengers Per Annum. AAI has
requested the State Government of Tamil Nadu for 653.35 acres of land to facilitate
comprehensive airport development, including extension of runway from 2285 m to 3810 m
for operation of Code-E type of aircraft, development of runway strip, apron, parallel taxi
track, terminal building, cargo terminal, etc.;
;
As per the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, the land for development of an airport is to
be provided by the respective State Government/ Union Territory Administration free of cost
and free from any encumbrances to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Out of the total
land requirement, 543.41 acres have so far been handed over to AAI by the State
Government.
;
The completion timeline for airport projects is dependent on multiple factors, including land
acquisition, regulatory clearances, removal of obstacles, and financial closure by the
respective airport developers.
******