Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar on Monday inspected areas in Irugur village abutting the land acquired for the expansion of Coimbatore International Airport after a section of land owners objected to road works.
The land owners have been objecting to works to construct walls on both sides of a 61-metre approach road, linking the lands acquired for the expansion of the airport to Avinashi Road near Neelambur. The approach road of about 2-km distance will have a 40-metre main road with two service roads of 10.5 meters on both sides.
People with lands on the sides of the approach road have been highlighting that construction of compound walls on both sides will cut access to their properties. The road works were stalled a few days ago following objections from land owners.
Mr. Giriyappanavar held talks with the land owners, who wanted the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to abort the plan for the wall on both sides of the approach road, until it enters the block of lands that the State government handed over to the AAI. The land owners wanted a written assurance from the authorities, following which the Collector directed Airport Director Mohammad Arif to convey the same to the AAI.
However, land owners wanted a written order from the district administration or AAI, stating that several verbal assurances by civil servants and other officials had been forgotten in the past.
A person, who gave over one acre to the airport for expansion works, said that his remaining land abuts the proposed approach road.
“We have cooperated by giving land at minimal rate and the acquisition process dragged on for over 15 years. Now, we are fearing loss of connectivity to remaining lands. The saddest part is that other stakeholders portray us as a section of people objecting to development,” said a land owner.
Sulur MLA N.M. Sukumar, who was present during the inspection, said the land owners raised a genuine concern, which authorities have assured to address.
District Revenue Officer in-charge of airport expansion and other officials were present.
Published - July 13, 2026 08:58 pm IST