Tender on for expansion of Coimbatore international airport: Minister

Industries Minister T.R.B. Raja
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Tender has been floated for the construction work for the expansion of Coimbatore International Airport, after the Tamil Nadu government handed over lands acquired for the expansion project, Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa said in the Assembly on Tuesday.

Responding to concerns raised by AIADMK’s S.P. Velumani in the House over the reported “delay” in the expansion of the Coimbatore International Airport, Mr. Rajaa said it was the DMK government that has undertaken concrete steps in this regard.

Though the idea of the expansion of the Coimbatore airport was made in 2010, the erstwhile AIADMK regime did not allocate funds until 2018 and had only allocated ₹572 crore between 2018 and 2021 though the estimated cost was ₹2,088 crore. “But, within a year of assuming office in 2021, Chief Minister has allocated ₹1,185 crore. So far, ₹1,515 crore has been allocated.”

Underlining the delay Mr. Velumani had contended the expansion of the airport in Coimbatore would boost the industrial profile of the region and said more IT companies would come to the city. Electricity Minister V. Senthilbalaji said lands acquisition has been completed and that the District Collector had handed the land over to authorities concerned.

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