Chennai: From steel skeleton to a near-ready terminal, Chennai airport’s integrated T3 is rapidly taking shape. With concrete work almost complete and glass facades, flooring, baggage systems, and passenger facilities taking shape, the new T3 is entering the final stretch. The Airports Authority of India is targeting completion by January and an inauguration by April 2027, subject to statutory approvals.The concrete work is 98% complete, and structural steel erection is 85% complete. Flooring, roof erection, and electrical work are nearly complete, and glass panel installation for the facade is progressing at a brisk pace. At least 55% of equipment installation, including the air handling unit (AHU), baggage handling system (BHS), counters, and elevators, is complete. Currently, partition work is underway. A workforce of more than 1,500 people has been deployed to complete the work,” said an AAI official.T3 is being developed as an 86,135sqm integrated terminal to handle both domestic and international flights for ₹2,467 crore under the second phase of Chennai airport’s modernization plan. The first phase was completed in 2023 and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The work on T3 faced delays due to the non-availability of raw materials owing to the West Asia crisis, but AAI has been periodically reviewing the progress of the terminal since January this year.When T3 is completed, the number of aerobridges will increase from 14 to 23, allowing passengers to directly enter or exit flights and the terminal without buses ferrying them to and from remote bays. With the completion of rapid exit ways, Chennai airport’s flight handling capacity will increase from 35 flights an hour to 45.K Pasupathy, a frequent flyer, said AAI can no longer come up with excuses to delay the project further as the state government is serious about appointing a new operator for Chennai. “The authorities should stick to the deadline and provide better experience to passengers,” he said
