The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Tamil Nadu government, seeking approval for an alternative route to the rear of Chennai airport. The proposed elevated road would connect the Tambaram-Porur stretch with the airport and cross the Adyar River, providing direct access to the facility’s rear side.

The route is intended to reduce reliance on the congested GST Road and improve movement for passenger and cargo vehicles. Freight operators travelling from other parts of Tamil Nadu have faced delays at the airport’s main entrance, where traffic and restrictions on GST Road have affected access to cargo facilities. By creating a separate approach, the project would give airport traffic an option besides the existing front-side entry, particularly when congestion slows access along the GST corridor.

The proposal is linked to AAI’s plan for a fifth terminal, which is intended to increase capacity and improve the use of remote aircraft bays. The terminal project had remained stalled for several years before AAI revived it in 2024. An additional access route would support the airport’s wider expansion programme.

The elevated corridor has been under consideration for some time. Before the DPR was submitted, AAI commissioned a hydrological study from the Centre for Water Resources at Anna University after the State government sought an assessment of how the proposed structures could affect the river’s flow during normal, monsoon and flood conditions.

AAI has said it is prepared to take up the road project after receiving State approval. The Tamil Nadu government will now examine the DPR before the proposal moves towards implementation. The development comes as the integrated Terminal 3 approaches completion, adding to the need for supporting road infrastructure around Chennai airport.