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CHENNAI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is sprucing up taxiways and parking bays ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping 's visit to Chennai enroute Mamallapuram on Friday.

A senior official of AAI said two large aircrafts, mostly B747 planes from China, are expected to arrive by 12.30 pm on October 11 and would return the next day. The parking bay will also be used to accomodate the official aircraft of Prime Minister Narendra Modi .

"Parking bays reserved for VIP aircraft near the cargo terminal area are being spruced up to park the planes. Meetings are being held with officials of ministry of external affairs to finalise arrangements," said an official.

The Prime Minister is expected to arrive by a special plane earlier in the day and he will shift to a helicopter that will take him to Thiruvidanthai on the ECR closer to Mamallapuram. The Chinese President will drive down to a star hotel in Guindy from the airport.

"We have told airlines to expect a delay in landing and take-off when the VIP movement is on at the airport on Friday. The rule says flight movement will not be allowed till the VIP plane touches down and moves to the parking bay. This may take 15 to 20 minutes. The Chinese President is landing during non-peak hour but Narendra Modi's plane will touchdowns earlier," he added.

Commercial flights may have to carry extra fuel to hold over the city till their landing is cleared by the air traffic control.

Apart from this, the ceremonial lounge used for arrival of VIPs is also being readied for the purpose. But as per the itinerary, the leaders are expected to move out of the airport soon after landing.

