V. Muruganandam, Regional Executive Director, Southern Region, Airports Authority of India (AAI).
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Born and raised in Thanjavur, my earliest memories of Chennai were when I visited the city for my summer vacation as a school student, said V. Muruganandam, Regional Executive Director, Southern Region, Airports Authority of India (AAI).“Playing around the Nandanam Tower Block, frequenting Marina Beach and riding through the city roads by double decker buses was something I looked forward to every year. I vividly remember the hotel ‘Adyar Gate’ coming up brick by brick at the junction of Chamiers Road and Mowbrays Road back then,” he said.“I moved to the city for my first job at a private firm in 1988. Subsequently, I joined National Airports Authority (NAA) (which later merged with the International Airports Authority of India and became Airports Authority of India) and worked in various cities of India, like Bengaluru, Bagdogra and Prayagraj (earlier known as Allahabad). A decade later, I returned to Chennai. Having travelled to many cities across the country for work, I have always felt no city is like Chennai,” Mr. Muruganandam added.“Chennai is a vibrant city with its own charm, welcomes everyone and helps them adapt to its pace with ease. The Ranganathan Street and Pondy Bazaar strolls of the 1980s with friends cannot be forgotten. I’m glad to have helped this resilient city during one of its most difficult times of the 2015 floods. Chennai airport was back in action in a short span for operations after the unprecedented floods,” he recalled.(As told to Sunitha Sekar) Published - August 12, 2026 12:39 am IST
