A discussion regarding the handing-over of lands acquired for Coimbatore International Airport is reportedly underway at the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretariat in Chennai.

Sources said on Sunday that once the model code of conduct that came into force on March 18, 2024, is lifted and the Lok Sabha results are out, the Tamil Nadu Government is expected to make an official announcement on this matter.

Although the land acquisition for the Coimbatore Airport Expansion project is nearly complete, the project will not commence until the State and Central Governments reach an agreement on how the acquired land will be used and by whom.

The Tamil Nadu Government has stated that it is ready to lease the acquired lands to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) at a nominal charge for expanding the airport. However, it has set certain conditions: it will not transfer ownership of the land to any entity, and AAI must not sub-lease it to any other entity once they receive the land from the state.

These conditions were laid out because there are reports that the Central Government is considering privatizing 25 airports in India, including four in Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Trichy, between 2022 and 2025.

According to a report, the Tamil Nadu government is considering relaxing the terms that has delayed the commencement of this Coimbatore Airport Expansion project. Industry veterans believe that completing this project will boost trade activities in the entire Kongu region and pave the way for flight connectivity to various international destinations. 

A key official at Coimbatore International Airport said that Rs. 1000 crore-worth of infrastructure upgradation works will immediately commence if the acquired land is handed over to AAI.