The Tuticorin Airport expansion project has received environmental clearance after the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change suggested the proposal. The EC is for expansion of the runway with blast pad, taxiway, isolation bay, new domestic terminal building and other works for Rs 380.87 crores. The expansion of the runway will make the total runway length from 1350 metres x 30 metres to 3115 m x 45 m and extend the existing runway to provide for the strength of A321 aircraft. The existing runway width would be raised from 30 m to 45 m by building a 7.5 m wide pavement on either side of the centre line of the runway. The other expansion activities comprise the development of a centrally air-conditioned domestic terminal building in an area of 10,800 sq m capable of handling 600 peak hour passengers with all modern facilities and amenities with three aerobridges. Additionally, it has a provision of a 23 m wide link taxi track, a 23 m wide and 1572 m long, part parallel taxi track and a long link taxi track. It has a provision for an apron of size 191 m x 89 m for parking five A321 aircraft, too. A new isolation bay and six security hut/watchtowers along the perimeter boundary wall are also in the expansion project. Presently, the land available for the operation of the existing airport is around 188.56 acres. Around 600.97 acres of additional land free from all encumbrances have already been given by the State government for the planned development activities. The government anticipates an improvement in the regional economy as it will enhance tourism and commercial activities in the region. The EAC (Infra 2), based on the information submitted and clarifications provided by the project proponent, suggested approval of environmental clearance for the project after detailed discussions. The EC came with a set of 14 conditions to be accompanied by the project proponent like area for green cover and to secure approvals or clearances under other Acts or Regulations or Statutes as applicable to the project. Image Source Also read: Aurangabad airport expansion hits bottleneck Also read: Covid impact: Kolkata airport’s expansion project halted