Tamil Nadu moves ahead with 600-acre Rameswaram airport plan

Tamil Nadu’s TIDCO has sought site clearance from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for a proposed 600-acre airport at Manikaneri in Ramanathapuram district. The project aims to improve air connectivity to Rameswaram, a major pilgrimage and tourism destination

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) has applied to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for site clearance to establish an airport at Manikaneri in Ramanathapuram district, taking the proposed Rameswaram airport project a step forward.

The airport is planned on approximately 600 acres, with land acquisition work already underway.

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Manikaneri was selected following an assessment of five potential locations and a recommendation from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The proposed facility is intended to improve access to Rameswaram, a major pilgrimage and tourism destination that attracts devotees and visitors from across India and abroad.

Ramanathaswamy Temple and Dhanushkodi are among the district’s principal attractions. However, Ramanathapuram district currently relies on road and rail connectivity, requiring visitors to complete their journeys using these modes of transport.

The state government decided to pursue the airport project to reduce travel time and provide an additional transport option for people visiting Rameswaram and nearby destinations.

TIDCO, the state agency responsible for implementing such infrastructure projects, has been coordinating the preliminary work, including identifying suitable land and pursuing the necessary approvals.

As part of this process, five sites were identified and assessed before Manikaneri emerged as the preferred location. The selection was based on the AAI’s recommendation following the assessment.

With the location identified and land acquisition initiated, TIDCO has now approached the Civil Aviation Ministry for the site clearance required to advance the proposal.

The application seeks approval for the proposed location. Site clearance is one of the key regulatory steps involved in establishing a new airport and precedes further approvals needed to implement the project.

Both site clearance and in-principle approval are essential for establishing an airport. Once these approvals are obtained, the project must proceed through construction and subsequently secure the permissions required to begin operations.

The latest application marks progress in the approval process, while further clearances remain necessary before the proposed airport can become operational.

For pilgrims and tourists travelling to Rameswaram, the project aims to make the destination more accessible by adding air connectivity to the district’s existing road and rail network.

The immediate focus is on securing the Centre’s site clearance for Manikaneri, enabling the state government and TIDCO to take the proposed 600-acre airport project to its next stage of development.