The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Uncertainty over laying of stone for new terminal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 27, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Uncertainty over laying of stone for new terminal

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Project is yet to get the clearance of the Public Investment Board

Thiruvananthapuram: Uncertainty prevails over whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would lay the foundation stone for the proposed Rs.129-crore new terminal of the international airport here during his forthcoming visit to the State capital in Febraury.

With the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests granting the environmental clearance for the project, it was widely expected that Dr. Singh would lay the foundation stone for the modern terminal for the airport on the city side.

However, the project is yet to get the mandatory clearance of the Public Investment Board (PIB).

Although Dr. Singh's engagements in the city are yet to be finalised, the chances of the Prime Minister laying the foundation stone are remote as there is hardly one week left for the visit.

A top official of the Airports Authority of India told The Hindu that there is no official word on whether the airport function figures in Dr. Singh's itinerary.

On November 24 last, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had announced that the Prime Minister Singh would lay the foundation stone for the new terminal in the first week of January.

Mr. Chandy announced this after the meeting of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport Development Society held in the Secretariat here.

Airport sources said the laying of foundation stone for the terminal project might be delayed as the election code of conduct would come into effect once elections to the Assembly are announced.

"If the foundation stone is not laid by Dr. Singh, it seems that the project might not take off during the tenure of this ministry," he said.

Acquisition of 11.15 hectares for the terminal commenced in 1996 and was entangled in court cases. Local people also opposed the project citing several reasons. Incidentally, the then Union Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav had laid the foundation stone for the modern terminal building on June 11, 2000.

The delay in commencing the work for the terminal has come as a big set back for those who have been fighting for the new terminal for the airport. Airport sources said it is an irony that foundation stone for the container transhipment terminal at Vizhinjam, conceived much after the terminal project, is being laid by Dr. Singh next month.

`Bury differences'

Meanwhile, the Kerala Association of Travel Agents has urged Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the MPs from the southern districts to bury their political differences and join hands for the commencement of work for the new terminal.

The association has alleged that the ruling and opposition parties were trying to scuttle the development of the airport.

"The MP's from the southern districts are keeping mum and are passive on putting pressure on the Union Government", according to association president K.V. Muralidharan.

The Airport Development Committee headed by the local MP had not been convened for the last three months. According to the association, the airport has registered a tremendous growth in arrivals and more airlines are seeking permission to operate flights to the city. The lack of a modern terminal would severely affect the further development of the airport.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail