Chennai Airport: Resurfacing Work On Secondary Runway Nears Completion, To Ensure Safety Standards

The resurfacing of the secondary runway at Chennai airport, which began almost two years ago, is now close to completion.

Chennai airport has two runways — a primary runway measuring 12,000 ft in length and a secondary runway measuring 9,000 ft in length.

The primary runway is used by the majority of flights, while the secondary runway is only used on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The resurfacing work for the secondary runway started in early 2021 and is expected to be finished within the next two months.

According to officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the resurfacing work was necessary to remove accumulated rubber deposits and ensure a smooth landing for aircraft, thus maintaining safety standards.

The work was carried out in three phases, and once completed, cross-runway operations can be planned, allowing flights to operate simultaneously on both runways.

This resurfacing work is the first in almost a decade. Three years ago, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted an inspection and observed significant wear and tear on the pavement. As a result, the decision to undertake the resurfacing work was made.

The secondary runway was initially planned to be extended to a length of approximately 11,000 feet. However, due to various issues, the length had to be limited to 9,000 feet, according to The Hindu report.

The officials have assured that measures have been taken to address any obstacles in the approach path.