Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has yet again written to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) proposing to shift the existing cargo terminal to the rear side of Chennai airport. This will help in providing more space for additional apron facilities and establish an exclusive corridor for cargo movement.
This is part of CUMTA’s City Logistics Plan (CLP) for 2025-26, which aims to bring down traffic congestion in the city by rerouting cargo movement and creating dedicated cargo connectivity.
AAI had originally planned to build a satellite terminal (T5 terminal) in the rear side of the airport near the remote bays which would increase the passenger handling capacity of the airport from 35 million (after the completion of phase II modernisation) to 50 million passengers. As an extension of this plan, AAI also envisaged the construction of an elevated corridor from National Highway-32 to provide access to this terminal.
CUMTA explores methods to ease cargo movement
Subsequently, AAI requested the State government’s approval for building this corridor. The latter asked for a hydrological impact study to be done to ensure that water flow on Adyar River isn’t affected due to the pillars to be built for the proposed corridor. Recently, AAI submitted this study as well. AAI says, the land available on the rear side can cater to both the satellite terminal and the cargo terminal.
