Tiruchi, June 14 (IANS) The long-awaited proposal to establish a domestic airport in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur has taken a significant step forward, with a Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth Rs 100 crore submitted to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for approval, administrative sanction and fund allocation.

The project is expected to enhance air connectivity across the Cauvery Delta region and support economic development in central Tamil Nadu.

The DPR was prepared by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Tamil Nadu government.

Tiruchy International Airport Director S.S. Raju said the Tamil Nadu government had already handed over 55 acres of land required for the project. The proposed airport is planned at the Thanjavur Air Force Station under the Centre’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme, which aims to improve air travel access to smaller cities and underserved regions.

According to Raju, the proposed domestic airport would initially accommodate three ATR aircraft and provide essential air connectivity to passengers from the Delta districts. The DPR includes plans for the construction of an administrative building and other basic infrastructure required for domestic flight operations.

“As part of the preliminary works, a DPR worth Rs 100 crore has been sent to the Civil Aviation Ministry. The project will create the infrastructure necessary to serve domestic air travellers from the Delta region,” he said.

The airport director also provided updates on key infrastructure projects underway at Tiruchy International Airport. He said nearly 70 per cent of the work on the new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower has been completed.

The 53-metre-high tower, being constructed at a cost of around Rs 60 crore, is expected to significantly improve air traffic management and operational efficiency.

Raju further said that land acquisition for the expansion of the airport runway from 8,000 feet to 12,500 feet is almost complete.

The runway expansion project, estimated to cost Rs 350 crore, is expected to strengthen the airport’s cargo handling capabilities and facilitate the operation of larger aircraft. “Once the runway expansion is completed, wide-body aircraft will be able to operate from Tiruchy, resulting in enhanced cargo facilities and greater connectivity,” he said.

Highlighting the impact of the recently inaugurated integrated terminal, Raju noted that peak-hour passenger handling capacity has increased from 652 passengers to 3,480 passengers.

Vehicle parking capacity has also more than doubled, rising from 450 cars to 990 cars, further improving passenger convenience.

The combined infrastructure upgrades are expected to strengthen Tiruchy’s position as a major aviation hub in Tamil Nadu while extending the benefits of air connectivity to the Delta region through the proposed Thanjavur airport project.

–IANS

aal/dpb