CM seeks PM's intervention

By T.S. Shankar

CHENNAI, DEC.1. Tamil Nadu is actively pursuing its case for Central clearance of the proposed new international airport for Chennai, with the Chief Minister, Mr.M. Karunanidhi, urging that the Prime Minister accord ``urgent'' clearance to it.

The State Government awaits the Union Cabinet's approval for implementing the Rs.1,100 crore-proposal, envisaged in BOOT or BOT mode. Mr.Karunanidhi has written to the Prime Minister, appealing for his intervention to clear the new airport planned to come up on a 2,000-acre site on the Porur end, west of Meenambakkam.

``We plan to meet Mr.Brajesh Mishra, who heads the Strategic Management Group (SMG) in the PMO to highlight the Foreign Direct Investment potential for the region, if this airport comes up in Chennai,`` top official sources told THE HINDU.

The project has evoked international interest, with Emirates and Singapore Airlines and European aviation companies wanting to participate, say officials.

The Government is stepping up its lobbying, even as the two Union Ministers - Mr.Murasoli Maran and Mr.T.R. Balu are also pursuing it actively.

The Chief Minister has conveyed Chennai's inherent strengths as a gateway from South East Asia, and the breaking point at which the present airport now stands.

Mr.Balu held a discussion on the status of the project at the Secretariat today at which the AAI Chairman, Mr.D.V.Gupta participated. The unresolved question of whether it should be a TIDCO-suggested BOOT arrangement, or the lease route advocated by AAI has cast a shadow on its progress.

Tamil Nadu's case is based on a techno-economic feasibility report prepared at a cost of Rs.1.25 crore by a UK consultant engaged by the TN Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO).

FDI is cited as Tamil Nadu's major concern, which depends on improving its global aviation links. The pace has been forced by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka pressing ahead to have their own international links, which will put them far ahead of Tamil Nadu.

Pursuing its ''fast track mode`` to attract FDI in automobiles, auto ancillaries, textile, software, petrochemical, IT and power sectors, Tamil Nadu says its tally in attracting FDI has reached Rs.30,000 crores in the liberalised regime.

There has been phenomenal growth in passenger traffic. The consultant's report says, 50 per cent of those using Chennai airport emerged from Tamil Nadu, while people from Karnataka contributed 23 per cent, Kerala 15 per cent and Andhra Pradesh, 12 per cent. What is more, the fourteenth airline, Kuwait Airways will start operations from Chennai in January.

The strong showing by Tamil Nadu in the share of passengers, officials contend, proves the critical need for a radical transformation of infrastructure, for the next three decades.

International passenger traffic at Anna International Airport registered a growth of 14.11 per cent compared to the all-India growth of 6.43 per cent. A similar pattern holds good for domestic traffic.

There is considerable disappointment that despite its serious approach and documented case, the Centre had recently cleared similar infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka while Tamil Nadu was virtually on hold.

Incidentally, the State Government hopes to finance the new airport through a short gestation joint venture, while Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh will rely heavily on State Government funding combined with the Airports Authority participation.

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