Chennai Airport T3 Terminal Only 50% Done as AAI Denies Extension

Chennai airport's upcoming T3 Terminal has reached only about 50% completion with just four months remaining before its December deadline, prompting a high-level review of ongoing works.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has refused a request from the contractor to extend the project deadline to March 2027, insisting that the remaining construction must be completed within four months.

On Friday, a high-level team comprising officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the AAI conducted an inspection of various ongoing projects across Chennai airport. Sources said that several members of the inspection team were not happy with the progress of the T3 Terminal work.

Despite the overall physical progress standing at roughly 50%, AAI officials stated that completing the terminal by December remains achievable. Officials explained that nearly 80% of material mobilisation has already been completed, enabling work to speed up significantly in the coming weeks.

"The pace is definitely bound to pick up after this. We have not accepted the request of the contractor to extend the deadline to March. We cannot delay the project further and have to finish it in four months," an AAI official said.

Sources indicated that the most difficult portions of the T3 Terminal construction are already finished, which should make it possible for the contractor to engage additional workers to finish the remaining tasks.

The work is part of the ₹2,467-crore Phase II modernisation project, which includes an integrated terminal combining the T2 and T3 terminals to manage international flight operations at Chennai airport.

The overall expansion project commenced about seven years ago and was originally slated for completion by 2022. While the T2 Terminal was launched in 2023, the subsequent phases have faced persistent delays.

Sources noted that cost escalations have been a major factor behind the slow execution. The contractor secured the project seven years ago based on material and labour costs at the time, but has faced difficulties sustaining operations amid rising prices.