Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Tamil Nadu Seeks Centre Clearance for Proposed Rameswaram Airport
Tamil Nadu wants to build an airport near Rameswaram.
The chosen site is Manikaneri, in Ramanathapuram district.
The airport is planned to cover about 600 acres.
Officials first considered five possible places and then shortlisted two.
The Airports Authority of India inspected both shortlisted sites, and Manikaneri was chosen.
The state is working on acquiring land and plans to ask the central government for site clearance.
This clearance is an early step before an airport can be developed there.
The airport is meant to give people another way to travel to Rameswaram.
Officials have not announced the cost, building schedule or when flights might start.
Tamil Nadu plans to seek site clearance from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for an airport at Manikaneri.
The proposed airport would cover about 600 acres in Ramanathapuram district.
Five sites were considered, and Manikaneri was selected after the Airports Authority of India inspected it and Kumbaram.
Land acquisition work is progressing, but the project’s cost, construction schedule and flight start date have not been specified.
The airport is intended to improve access to Rameswaram, where visitors currently rely mainly on road and rail transport.
- Who
- The Tamil Nadu government and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation are advancing the proposal.
- What
- The state plans to seek site clearance for a proposed airport at Manikaneri.
- When
- The proposal was announced in 2025; the application date has not been specified.
- Where
- Manikaneri, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- To improve access to Rameswaram and support tourism and regional economic activity.
- Proposed site
- Manikaneri, Ramanathapuram district
- Planned area
- About 600 acres
- Next step
- TIDCO plans to apply to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for site clearance.
- Sites considered
- Palankulam, Devipattinam, Kumbaram, Kalari and Manikaneri
- Shortlisted sites
- Kumbaram and Manikaneri
- Current status
- Land acquisition work is progressing.
- Unspecified details
- Construction schedule, project cost and flight start date have not been provided.
