Chettinad Airport

Chettinad Airport, also known as the Karaikudi Kanadukathan Airport, is an abandoned airport near Karaikudi.[1][2] Chettinad Airport is named for its location in the Chettinad region. The land surrounding the airstrip is now barren, but the runway of this airstrip is still in working condition with no damage. It spans Approximately 2000 meter Length and 1500 width. It looks like Latin Cross from top view. It has 2 runways which is left undamaged till date.

The peoples of Chettinad pioneered India's Flying Club. Chettinad Airstrip Boasted one of the India's first Flying Club in 1930's itself. This airport served as a Primary Hub airport of Jupiter Airlines around 1953 which was operated by Alagappa Chettiar at that time, later the airline company is closed and so the airport left in disuse.[3][4][5][6][7] The airstrip was used by the British Government (United Kingdom) as an airbase during World War II. Fighter planes from Royal Air force would land at this airstrip to refuel and reload the bombs and also there was a helipad at that airbase. It housed DC3, the Hawker Hurricanes and the spitfires at that time.

Nearest functioning airport to karaikudi is Madurai International airport and Tiruchirapalli international airport. But both airports are located at a distance of approximately 100 kms (by Road) from this town.

The Government of India plans to construct a new airport at Chettinad under the UDAN scheme.[8][9] Once opened, this airport serves the districts of Sivagangai, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram. And also serves many religious cultural places present around this area. Currently this land is being owned and maintained by the Tamilnadu Animal Husbandry Department.

Importance of this airport

Tourist, religious and cultural places near this airport:

Kalayarkovil

Thirumayam

Pillaiyarpatti

Kundrakudi

Thondi

Thiruutirakosamangai

Devipattinam

Rameswaram

Karaikudi

Vettangudi

Thirukostiyur

Important towns near this airport:

Karaikudi

Sivagangai

Pudukkottai

Ramanathapuram

Tirupathur

Aranthangi

Thirumayam

Devakottai

Ponamaravathi

Thondi

Thiruvadanai

Paramakudi

Importance of this airport:

The INS Parundu airbase serves for Indian navy which strategically locates very close to ceylon which causes several inabilities of Indian navy to cooperate with commercial airline and this airbase has a runway length of just 920 Meters[10] which is not capable of handling medium and larger flights. It has the capability to handle just 20 seater airplanes in its runway. Moreover the runway of this airbase is sandwiched between Highway Road(Madurai Rameswaram Highway) and Railway Track(Manamadurai - Rameswaram branch line) which makes this airbase unfit for future expansion. So it is not possible to locate an airport at INS Parundu. Instead karaikudi airstrip which is few kilometers away from INS Parundu airbase can be the best option for making an airport because it has 2 runways spans 2000 Meters and 1500 Metres with no constructed buildings and no upcoming projects around it.

References
  1. "Chettinad Group ready to support efforts for mini airport". The Hindu. 2017-02-27. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  2. Staff Reporter (2020-11-02). "HC seeks report on improving air connectivity". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  3. Basu, Soma (2021-02-11). "Alagappa Chettiar and the untold story of his Jupiter Airlines launched in pre-independence Madras". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  4. "Alagappa Chettiar and the untold story of his Jupiter Airlines released in pre-independence Madras". Make Digitally. 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  5. mediabest. "Alagappa Chettiar and the untold story of his Jupiter Airlines launched in pre-independence Madras | BINJ.IN". Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  6. "Jupiter Airways (ii) history from India, Rest of World". Airline History. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  7. "Forgotten Pioneer Who Launched An Airline To Ferry Refugees During Partition". The Better India. 2021-08-15. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  8. "HC seeks report on feasibility of airport at Rameswaram". The Times of India. November 3, 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  9. Ramakrishnan, T. (2016-11-22). "Centre identifies 13 unserved airports in TN under Udan scheme". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  10. "INS Parundu Naval Air Station - IndiaAirport.com". indiaairport.com. Retrieved 2021-10-13.


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