Nearly eight years after the proposal was floated, the satellite terminal at the Chennai airport is yet to see the light of the day owing to various reasons. The project, which went through different iterations since it was mooted, now looks at a new plan again.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) planned the terminal eight years ago with the idea to decongest the existing terminal, and plan for the future to meet the increasing demand since there was barely any concrete proposal for a second airport for the city back then.

According to AAI officials, based on a recent plan proposed by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), the satellite terminal, which will be constructed between the main and secondary runways, would serve as both a passenger and cargo terminal. Passengers can access this terminal via NH 32, but under the revised plans not only passengers but also residents of nearby areas can use the road. Cargo can also be transported to the terminal.

But the challenge in this proposal will be the funding. Earlier the AAI was prepared to take on the entire cost since the corridor was an exclusive one for passengers and cargo, but now that the public are also likely to use it, a funding arrangement will have to be worked out between the State government and the AAI. From finalising the funding and figuring out the traffic the terminal will cater to and completing the construction, the project still has a long way to go.

When the satellite terminal project was taken up for the first time by the AAI, it planned an underground tunnel linking the existing domestic and international terminals with it. The AAI engaged a consultant too and a report was submitted. But the idea to build the tunnels was later dropped. Soon after that, the project was paused since the traffic had dipped owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was revived again in 2024, and the revised plan was to connect the terminal with a dedicated corridor via NH 32.

Impact on the Adyar

After the AAI presented this project report to the Tamil Nadu government, it wanted a study to be carried out to look at the impact of the project on the nearby area.

The study was sought since the pillars of the terminal’s access corridor would be along the banks of the Adyar. The study indicated that the corridor will have no adverse impact on the river. At that time, sources said the government wasn’t too keen on this terminal since the Parandur airport was planned.

It is to be noted that the completion of the T3 terminal under the Phase II Modernisation had been plagued by delays and not been completed years after the construction began.

A. Sankar of the Indian Air Passengers’ Association, who is a frequent flyer, said it made more sense to focus on a newer, bigger airport for the city instead of the satellite terminal.

“This is primarily because the ongoing Phase II Modernisation has been riddled with so many delays. I worry how long the authorities will take to complete the satellite terminal. Another classic example is the second cab pick-up point and plaza. Though they are completed and ready, the AAI is yet to open them. Hence, I think it is better to focus on the new airport in Parandur, which will at least be better for the development of the State,” he added.