Coimbatore, June 15 (IANS) A fresh dispute has emerged over the expansion of Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore International Airport, with residents and farmers of Chinniyampalayam and Irugur opposing the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) proposal to construct a perimeter wall along both sides of the new approach road leading to the airport’s upcoming terminal.

The affected landowners, many of whom had surrendered portions of their land for the airport expansion project, allege that the proposed wall would cut off access to their remaining properties and agricultural fields, severely affecting their livelihoods.

The issue concerns the 1,917-metre-long and 60-metre-wide approach road being developed from Avinashi Road to the new terminal. According to residents, the road passes through parts of RG Pudur, Irugur and Chinniyampalayam and intersects a 20-metre-wide local road that currently serves as the primary access route for several residential and agricultural properties in the area.

Farmers say that if the entire stretch of the approach road is enclosed with walls, they would lose vital connectivity to their lands and neighbouring roads, including Irugur Road.

“We have no objection to a security wall around the airport premises. However, constructing walls along the approach road would effectively block the existing public road and isolate our remaining lands,” said a farmer who had given more than two acres of land for the airport project and continues to cultivate crops on the land left with him.

Residents pointed out that the state government had issued a Government Order in October 2010 for land acquisition related to the airport expansion. However, they said no provisions were made to ensure access to the lands that remained with the original owners.

Compensation for the acquired land was finalised and paid only in 2020, with agricultural landowners receiving Rs 900 per sq ft and residential landowners receiving Rs 1,500 per sq ft. The landowners said their remaining properties continue to be their primary source of livelihood and that airport security restrictions would make farming and everyday life difficult if alternative access routes are not provided.

As a solution, residents have urged AAI to construct 10-metre-wide service roads on either side of the approach road, similar to the existing airport access road. Some have also suggested that if access cannot be ensured, the authorities should acquire their remaining properties as well.

Following objections from residents, AAI officials have reportedly halted work on constructing the wall and are exploring alternative arrangements. The issue has also been taken up with Sulur MLA N.M. Sugumar. After meeting AAI officials, Sugumar said he had urged the airport authority to provide service roads to ensure uninterrupted public access. He maintained that farmers and residents could not be deprived of their right to access their lands and expressed confidence that a mutually acceptable solution would be found.

–IANS

aal/dpb