Residents protest land acquisition for Madurai airport expansion

Residents of Chinna Udaippu protested against the land acquisition for Madurai Airport's expansion on Sunday. They claimed they received no prior notice before officials and police arrived to begin evictions, using cranes and trucks to demolish homes. Protesters argued that the compensation offered was based on outdated land values from the 1990s. They stated that while current land value is around ₹7 lakh per cent, some received only ₹3 lakh for larger plots, making relocation difficult. Madurai District Revenue Officer R. Sakthivel acknowledged the protests but stated that accepted compensation limits their options. He granted residents an additional week to vacate their homes while emphasizing that legal recourse is their only option for further claims.