CHENNAI: The state government is going slow on the second airport, but the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is getting ready to build a huge facility as a satellite terminal in the space available between the main runway and the second runway at Chennai airport .four-way tunnel will be built from the basement of the new integrated terminal, which is under construction between the domestic and international terminals, and the satellite terminal.This is expected to increase passenger handling capacity of the airport beyond 35 million per annum.The earlier plan was to have a small facility in a northwest corner of the airport near the compound wall, while planes would be parked in the remote bays between the runways.An AAI official said the plan had been changed and the satellite terminal would now occupy the space of remote parking bays. “It is going to be built after taking over the parking bays because the building has to come inside a taxiway. This way it’s easier to park planes near the building and board passengers,” he said.There are 35 parking bays between the runways where small private planes are parked. If a terminal is built, these bays can be rearranged for passenger use to boost the airport’s capacity, an AAI document said.According to the current plan, the tunnel will take passengers to the basement of the satellite terminal. From there, they can take elevators or escalators to the ground level and a first floor level. Aerobridges with multiple slots will connect 43 parking bays around the building. Bigger widebody planes can be docked to the aerobridges. “The terminal will act as a place where people can enjoy retail experience, spas and relax till the boarding call,” said an official.Passengers checking in at the integrated terminal will be taken to the satellite terminal 1.5km to 2km away for boarding. AAI has called for a consultant to do a detailed project report to find out how the tunnel can be built underneath a runway and positioning of the terminal in the spot as mentioned in the graphic.“Once we have the report about feasibility of the tunnel and the satellite terminal, we will call for a contract to find a company to carry out the construction. The exact plan of the terminal building may change based on the report filed by the consultant,” an AAI official said.