Chennai Terminal, Madurai ATC Tower, Regional Airports: Rammohan Naidu Outlines Aviation Infrastructure Expansion In Tamil Nadu

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Saturday (14 March) formally declared that Madurai Airport has been accorded international airport status.

The approval was granted on 10 March by the Union Cabinet Committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fulfilling what the minister described as a three-decade-long demand from the people of Madurai.

“The Madurai airport will help tourists and pilgrims from various countries visit the city and its iconic Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. Besides, the famous Madurai malli (jasmine) can be exported to different parts of the world. This will create more jobs. Similarly, hospitality, MSME, and agricultural sectors will get a big boost,” he said in the renaming ceremony at Madurai.

The minister pointed out that passenger traffic at Madurai airport has grown significantly over the years. Around 6.7 lakh passengers used the airport 12 years ago, whereas the facility currently handles about 14 lakh passengers annually, reflecting increasing air travel demand in the region.

“We have increased the number of airports in the country from 74 to 166 today,” he said, emphasising that the central government has prioritised civil aviation infrastructure development as part of a wider strategy to improve connectivity and stimulate economic activity.

In Tamil Nadu, several aviation infrastructure projects are currently underway. The minister noted that a new terminal building worth Rs 2,500 crore is under construction at Chennai International Airport, which is expected to become operational in the coming months.

He also referred to the recent opening of a new terminal at Thoothukudi Airport, along with the extension of its runway to 3 km, allowing the airport to handle larger Airbus-class aircraft.

Passenger numbers at Thoothukudi airport have also grown steadily, increasing from around 80,000 passengers annually in 2014 to nearly 2 lakh today.

During the programme, the minister inaugurated a new air traffic control tower at Madurai airport, constructed at a cost of Rs 94 crore, which will help strengthen air traffic management capabilities.

Naidu further revealed that the Centre is working to expand aviation connectivity in the state through additional regional airports.

Under the government’s aviation initiatives, Salem airport has been made operational through the UDAN scheme, while plans are progressing to expand passenger handling capacity at Coimbatore International Airport with a new terminal building.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to make Vellore airport operational, where construction has been completed, and licensing procedures are in progress. Work on the Neyveli airport, being developed by Neyveli Lignite Corporation, is also nearing completion.

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