Travelling to the airport is no longer an anxious journey, as TOD is set to boost not only the realty market, but also enhance connectivity.
A good airport that connects to other cities in the country as well as the world helps further the development of the city. An established airport not only helps in bringing people closer, but also helps economies, thus making sure the particular city sees commercial growth and development. For this to happen, it is crucial that the airport is accessible from different parts of the city.
“A decade ago, we had limited ways of reaching the airport. We would often book a cab, and anxiously wait for it to arrive and get to the airport on time. Today, that is not the case as ease of travelling to the airport has increased. The metro rail services have made it easier to travel to the airport with fast trains that reach in less than 40 minutes,” says Banita S, a frequent flyer, adding that there were free buggy services the last time she was at the airport. “Travelators too have been inaugurated; they connect the metro station to the domestic and international terminal. All these amenities have ensured that travelling to the airport is a comfortable ride,” she says.
An important aspect of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is to minimise the walking distance to public transport spots, thereby increasing the number of people taking the public transport, and providing accessibility to all parts of the city. TOD will help flyers seamlessly connect to the airport.
WS Habib, President, CREDAI Chennai, say the benefits of TOD would be manifold. “As we know, air travel is growing at an exponential rate, which means a countless number of passengers are at the airport. Airport Oriented Development (AOD) can become dynamic centres of economic, commercial and entertainment activity for passengers and residents of the area.”
T Chitty Babu, Chairman and CEO, Akshaya Pvt Ltd, adds that TOD will require the development of large portions of the area around the airport and the localities closer to the airport. “These areas will be required to build an integrated network of connectivity and better urban planning in the city. TOD will significantly reduce travel time, encourage the use of public transport and reduce congestion and creation of public amenities as well as social infrastructure to cater to the growing needs of the urban population,” says Babu.
Developing a good and viable transport network around the airport is essential for its improvement, thus paving way for more commercial growth. And this will also impact the residential segment. Stressing on the influence real estate will have on it, Babu says, “TOD provides a tremendous opportunity for real estate to contribute to the development of commercial as well as residential spaces. It will boost the economy and trigger a substantial growth of organised development in the city. Better policy and rules by the government can help the real estate industry in leveraging TOD to plan the city more efficiently and open the gates for more opportunities for investments.”
Source Ranjitha G, Times Property, The Times of India, Chennai