The Hindu : Kerala News : Centre to help set up airport in Kannur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 30, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Centre to help set up airport in Kannur

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel, has promised support of the Union Government for setting up an airport in Kannur.

Mr. Patel was speaking at the launch of Air-India Express, Air-India's budget airline, at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Friday.

"Your vision for Kannur will see the light of the day in the shortest possible time," he said. The Minister also promised assistance for all developmental initiatives in the State.

In his address, the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, described as `very positive' Mr. Patel's approach to the proposal for an airport in Kannur.

"Some may ask if a small State, like ours, needs a fourth airport. But we need it and will make it happen," he said. The successful private-public partnership in the setting up of the Nedumbassery airport had shown the way. The potential of developing Kannur as a tourism destination in the State was high, he added.

Describing the launch as `a memorable day,' Mr. Chandy said the introduction of a budget airline had been a long-pending demand of Malayalis working in Gulf countries. "A majority of them are leading a hand-to-mouth existence. There are people who have not visited the State for the last 10 years as they cannot afford air fares," he said.

Airport development

On the development of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode airports, he said: "The State Government has already handed over 27 acres of land to the Airports Authority of India for the expansion of the Thiruvananthapuram airport. The first stage of development of the Kozhikode airport has started. The land required for the second stage will be given on demand."

The Minister for Cooperation and Ports, M.V. Raghavan; the Chairman of Non-resident Keralaites Affairs (NORKA), M.M. Hassan; the Chief Managing Director of Air India, V. Thulasidas; and the Chief Secretary, Palat Mohandas, attended the function.

The Air-India Express aircraft took off from the international airport here to Abu Dhabi at 9.10 a.m., nearly half an hour behind schedule.

The Governor, R.L. Bhatia, flagged off the flight. Mr. Chandy and Mr. Patel were among those who boarded it.

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