The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Land for AI subject to conditions

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Monday, Feb 25, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Land for AI subject to conditions

Special Correspondent

Second largest maintenance base for capital

The government has given Air India 15 acres free of cost
Land value to become equity if
AI is privatised

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar said here on Sunday that the government had given land to Air India for its aircraft maintenance base in Thiruvananthapuram subject to conditions.

Replying to questions at a press conference, the Minister said that Air India had agreed to set up the country’s second largest maintenance base in Thiruvananthapuram as the government had given it 15 acres free of cost.

However, if Air India becomes a private company in future, the value of the land would be converted into equity.

The land, he said, belonged to the government-owned Trivandrum Rubber Works. The government spent Rs. 9 crore for the voluntary retirement scheme for the workers of the company.

It took about four months to auction off and clear the machinery of the company. This caused some delays in starting the civil works for the base. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the civil works on March 1 at a function to be attended by Ministers and Chairman and Managing Director of Air India V. Thulasidas.

Mr. Vijayakumar said that the government proposed to acquire 93 acres more for the airport in Thiruvananthapuram and 137 acres for the Kozhikode airport.

He said the first phase of works for the international terminal in Thiruvananthapuram was expected to be completed this year itself at a cost of Rs.245 crore.

The second phase would cost Rs.255 crore, the Minister said.

Peninsular railway zone

The Minister said the government had argued for formation of a peninsular railway zone based in Kerala and starting of a railway coach factory at Palakkad during the pre-budget discussions it had with Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.

It had also sought electrification of the Shoranur-Mangalore section and full coverage in doubling of railway tracks.

Freight corridor

A proposal had also been made for a dedicated high speed passenger and freight corridor between Mumbai and Kerala.

Air India Station Manager H.A. Munaff, who was also present, said the Air India planned to construct a hanger based on the latest technology in Thiruvananthapuram. The maintenance base would primarily service the B737-800 type aircraft being used by its budget airline Air India Express, the AI station manager said.

Members of the Assembly V. Sivankutty and V. Surendran Pillai and Mayor C. Jayan Babu also attended the press conference besides Air India officials.

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