The Ministry of Civil Aviation told the media that the Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) Survey has to be carried out at the two sites, Pannur and Parandur, which have been shortlisted for Chennai’s second airport because they have obstructions.
After the survey, officials will check for obstructions around the site and look at the feasibility of operations. The authorities might finalise either of the locations for the second airport. Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia said that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had found two sites at Pannur and Parandur are more feasible for the airport project as per availability of air space, as these sites are free of natural obstructions. But, the man-made obstacles are present at the sites and some hazards like lakes and smoke-producing industries, whose severity concerning airport operations, can only be ascertained after the OLS Survey and Site Survey. According to a report, AAI had shortlisted Parandur and Pannur and sent a pre-feasibility study to Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) after inspecting four sites. Scindia said that 633.17 acres of land are required at the Madurai airport for air and city-side expansion works, including the extension of the runway, construction of a parallel taxi track, terminal and cargo buildings etc. The state government has given 528.65 acres to AAI, and the remaining 104.52 acres are yet to be handed over. Image Source
