Madurai Airport going International !!
The city has seen a sudden surge in air traffic, a whopping 82.3 percent growth, way ahead of all the other 11 airports in the four states of southern region from April 2006 to March 2007.While industry analysts attribute this to the emergence of Madurai as a favourite destination for IT investors after Bangalore and Chennai, the AAI is in the process of equipping the airport with facilities which will take it to the next level of development - an international airport.Currently, Madurai-bound international passengers continue to undergo the hardship of having to go via Tiruchy or Chennai.Nevertheless, the AAI has kicked off a Rs 70-crore short-term augmentation project, which involves increasing the length of the runway to 9,000 feet, expansion of aprons to accommodate four aircraft and linking of the terminal building for baggage clearance. In addition, an integrated terminal building will be constructed, said K Ramalingam, regional executive director, Southern Region, AAI.This will enable the authority to equip the airport to meet further increase in passenger and aircraft traffic necessiated by IT investments.
The AAI had also asked for 500 acres from the State Government to extend the runway as the already available space was used to the maximum, he added.As the airport caters to the needs of residents of Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Theni, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, there have been demands to start international services, especially to Gulf countries and South East Asia.
