Trade and industry associations of the region have hailed the State government’s decision to form a committee for speeding up the process of land acquisition for expansion of Coimbatore International Airport.

Land acquisition for expansion of the Coimbatore airport has been hanging fire for many years and the industry associations here have been pressing the government to expedite the process.

On Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s directive, an advisory meeting was convened at the Collectorate here.

SP Velumani, Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development, Girija Vaidyanathan, Chief Secretary, and other officials, who attended the meeting resolved to form a committee under the Commissioner for Land Administration to acquire land.

Trade bodies see this development as a step forward. V Sundaram, President, Codissia, said the committee, headed by an official from the revenue department, would help accelerate the process.

P Nataraj, Chairman, The Southern India Mills’ Association, said lack of international flight connectivity from this industrial belt impacted business opportunities and travel potential. “Better connectivity is essential to reduce time delay and cost as currently air shipment is carried out from Chennai or Bengaluru,” he said. Raja M Shanmugham, President, Tirupur Exporters’ Association, said the Kongu region comprising seven districts in western TN such as Coimbatore, Tirupur, Karur, Nilgiris, Salem, Erode and Namkkal, contribute to over 40 per cent of the State’s GDP.

Vanitha Mohan, Convenor, Kongu Global Forum, and President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, said acquisition of land for the expansion project would strengthen connectivity.

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