The news is a satellite terminal would be built by the AAI or Airport Authorities of India at the Chennai Airport in about three years of time. It must be noted that this satellite terminal would be constructed near the second runway and after the completion of new integrated terminal. It is now said that planning as well as design works are going on and the rest would be completed in two years.
An amount of Rs 500 crores would be spent on this and this work would be included in the phase two expansion of the airport. An official from AAI shared his thoughts about this satellite terminal and said building integrated terminal would be done first and later the construction of satellite terminal would start. He also spoke about how the number of people using the airport is on the rise now and he spoke about the next level of development that is needed.
Though in the last few years officials had plans to construct a terminal near the space between second and main runway, but it was in the year 2016 environment ministry approved the plan.
It must be noted that later AAI took up feasibility study where Chennai metro rail was approached for feasibility study. Presently this project is in the initial stages only but is included in the phase 2 expansion. The official from AAI also spoke about how once the work starts it would go at one stretch. He also spoke about how the tunnel would begin from the integrated terminal and how the passengers could be ferried to the satellite terminal.
A mammoth amount of Rs 2587 crores would be needed for the phase 2 expansion because this expansion includes integrated terminal, straightening of taxiway plus construction of more rapid exit taxiways. It is now revealed that AAI have included this in the same phase itself.