Chennai Airport Phase 2 Set for March 2026 Completion

28 Jul 2025 CW Team

The second phase of the Chennai International Airport expansion is progressing swiftly, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) setting March 2026 as the target completion date. A high-level delegation led by AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar visited the site this week, underlining the urgency to adhere to deadlines amid increasing passenger numbers and growing operational demands.

The under-construction terminal spans 86,135 square metres and will feature state-of-the-art amenities to enhance capacity and passenger experience. The Rs 12.07 billion project will include:

8 entry gates
60 check-in counters
10 X-ray scanners
9 remote boarding gates
8 aerobridges

Advanced baggage conveyor systems and automated security scanners are also being installed to streamline operations and strengthen safety measures.

This expansion is a response to surging footfall, which has grown from 22 million passengers in 2015 to a projected 35 million by the end of 2025. The AAI proposed the expansion in 2017, with funding approved by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The full redevelopment covers 236,000 square metres, executed in two phases. Phase 1, which cost Rs 12.6 billion and spanned 149,000 square metres, faced pandemic-related delays and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 April 2023. Following this, the old Terminal 3 was demolished to make space for Phase 2.

Upon completion, Chennai Airport will boast four integrated terminals—T1, T2, T3, and T4—capable of accommodating over 35 million passengers annually. It will also support over 500 aircraft movements daily, improving both domestic and international connectivity.

Authorities are pushing to accelerate construction to keep up with Chennai’s growing status as a major aviation hub.

Infrastructure Urban

05 May 2026

Meghalaya And Assam Hold Talks To End Transport Stoppages In Garo Hills

Meghalaya and Assam have opened talks aimed at ending recent stoppages of commodity transport in the Garo Hills, officials said. The deputy chief minister, in charge of home affairs, reported that both state governments are coordinating to resolve disruptions and to restore normal movement of goods. He acknowledged that misunderstandings may have contributed to the incidents and that clarification between administrative units is under way. The discussions are intended to produce practical arrangements that will allow consignments to move without hindrance while respecting local procedures. The..

Kochi Metro Records 1.375 mn Rise In Passengers In FY26

Kochi Metro recorded a marginal rise in ridership in the financial year 2025-26, carrying 1.375 mn more passengers than in the previous year. The service carried 36.8 million (mn) passengers in 2025-26 compared with 35.5 mn in 2024-25, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.9 per cent. The growth was described as distributed rather than concentrated in isolated spikes. A month-wise analysis shows steady gains across quarters. In the first quarter, ridership increased from 8.57 mn to 8.84 mn, while the second quarter rose from 9.13 mn to 9.51 mn. These trends indicated broad-based improvemen..

Ghaziabad Plans 16km Metro Link To Delhi Via Hindon Airport

Ghaziabad authorities are pursuing a 16 km metro link to Delhi that will run via Hindon Airport, and a detailed project report is under way. The plan is intended to improve connectivity between Ghaziabad and the national capital and to provide an interchange with the airport. Officials said the project is being studied to assess alignments, station locations and cost estimates ahead of formal approvals and tendering. The announcement follows the inauguration of the Delhi?Faridabad metro extension, which will offer hassle free travel for around 0.2 mn daily commuters between the national capita..