Tamil Nadu government shortlists two sites for Rameswaram airport

Four months after the announcement, Tamil Nadu government listed two sites to develop an airport in the Ramanathapuram region. Recently, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Company (TIDCO) has set five potential sites and now the state government has reduced it to two: one near Uchipulli and the other near Keelalakarai.

“Initially, we have predicted that approximately 700 acres of land would be required for the airport, now based on the short-list sites, we may need an area of ​​approximately 500-600 acres. Although these two sites are possible, the state government asked Tidco to call a closer place to Rameswaram.

The sources said that the government should get permission from the navy for the Uchipulli site.

In September last year, the Ministry of Civil Aviation asked the Tamil Nadu government to discover places under a passenger terminal building and other facilities under the Regional Air Connection Plan (RCS) and build Ramanathapuram airport.

In March of this year, the state government decided to build the airport in order to give a fale to tourism and economic development in the Southern Region. At the end of March, TİDCO officials visited all sites for a preliminary study.

The areas were concluded according to the proximity to other airports, a rectangular land with a 3,500 m length, and 500 m width, topography, ground accessibility, wind pattern, rating and soil properties. In addition, there should be no big obstacles that will be very difficult to remove. After the Indian Airport Authority (AAI) conducted a preliminary feasibility study, the state government may be zero on the site next year.

Currently, thousands of pilgrims are visiting Rameswaram by train and bus, there is a large population that flys to Madurai Airport and takes a driving of 150 km to this temple town.

Since Ramanathapuram is a few temples, the proposed Greenfield Airport will also help neighboring areas such as Virudhungar, Sivagangai and Pudukkottai.

This is the third airport, where the state government focuses on increasing the air connection, the other two airports are money and Hosur.