Mauritius airport authority seeks to acquire land for expansion

(eTN) – The Airports of Mauritius company is reportedly engaged in negotiations with nearby residents to acquire their land, needed to optimize security and operational safety. From information received from the island, over 20 families have received offers of compensation to give up their land and resettle somewhere else, as the expansion and modernization of the country’s main airport, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolan International Airport (SRIA), goes ahead.

Offers based on market value of the properties were formally made by the end of last year and feedback is expected to be in by mid-January. Ongoing construction work has apparently prompted complaints from nearby residents, making it more urgent that resettlement and voluntary acquisition of land parcels needed is concluded with all haste.

In a survey last year, SRIA declared as Africa’s best airport, and it is clearly aiming to retain that accolade and improve facilities further to welcome a million and more visitors expected to visit Mauritius in 2012. Final arrival details and statistics from Mauritius are expected in due course for 2011.