The expansion of the terminal building is planned for 7,680 sq. metres
The Expert Appraisal Committee of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (EAC), recommended that the existing integrated terminal building and a new ATC tower be built at Madurai Airport for Environment Clearance.
The current terminal building will be expanded by 7,680sq.m. and will have a total built-up area of 25,250sq.m.
After expansion, the peak hour occupancy of the building will rise from 700 to 2,600 peak hour passengers to 1,800 domestic and 800 international travelers. According to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), this would translate into an annual capacity of 4.15 millions passengers per year by 2024-25.
Additional facilities will be available at the facility, including x-ray machines with security lanes and an additional conveyor belt. There will also be one aero-bridge. Theproposed ATC Tower-cum-Technical Block will be a four-storiedstructure with tower cabin at 33.4 m above ground level.
Madurai’s airport is already 502 acres in size. AAI submitted that no additional land is needed for expansion.
AAI stated that the expansion will improve air connectivity to Madurai, and other nearby districts, and will increase tourism, trade, and commercial activities in the area. It will also increase the State’s revenue and create more employment, business, and industrial opportunities, AAI submitted.
The EAC recommended the project for environment clearance. It also established a number of standard conditions. These included the establishment of rooftop solar energy plants of 100 KW and 60KW, and 3.9 MW ground-mounted solar power plant proposals, as well as treatment of wastewater at the on-site Sewage Treatment Plant, which has a capacity of 900KLD. According to the EAC, there will be no discharge of treated waters from the project.
It said that the Project Proponent would investigate the use non-ozone depleting chemicals in airconditioning systems.