The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Normal operations at airport to resume on August 1

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Sunday, Jul 27, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Normal operations at airport to resume on August 1

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Round-the-clock operations from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will resume on August 1.

The runway of the premier airport in the State had remained closed for all flight operations for six hours from 1.30 p.m. since April 1.

The runway was closed to take up construction of the apron of the Rs.245.58-crore world-class terminal on the city side.

During the period, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had taken up work on linking the parking bays to the existing 3,398-metre runway. The bays are being constructed at a cost of Rs.14.5 crore.

As per the rules, the mandatory, notice for airmen world over (NOTAM) was issued informing all airlines about the partial closure of the runway till June 30. Since the work could not be completed, the AAI had to extend closure of the runway till July.

“The work had been completed and the airport is ready to resume round-the-clock operations. We will be lifting the partial closure of the runway from August 1,” Airport Director N. Nagraj said.

The operating airlines like Jet Airways and Indian had rescheduled the flights to and from the airport.

AAI officials said it was now for individual airlines to take steps to restore the flights.

GoAir had already approached the AAI for ‘parking’ of their aircraft. They are also likely to commence domestic flight operations, sources said.

Mr. Nagraj said the airline was yet to inform the AAI about the sector to which they are planning to operate the flights.

Already, Global Vectra Aviation is using the airport for providing helicopter services and medical services for off-shore drilling work being carried out off the coast of Thiruvananthapuram.

The AAI had closed the runway for an eight-hour period from November 2003 to May 2004 to take up the re-carpeting of the runway at a cost of Rs.13 crore.

Meanwhile, the AAI is putting pressure on the State government to provide the requisite land needed to complete the work on the world- class terminal on Chaka side. The AAI needs 15 acres of land on Karali side for expansion of car parking facilities and 5 acres on the Chaka side.

A new Air Traffic Control Tower is also being set up. As the shoulders of the apron of the new terminal almost touched the boundary wall of the airport on Karali side, the AAI cannot take up any work at this area.

“Since the second phase of the world class terminal project had been taken along with the first, we need the 20 acres of land urgently to complete the work and to commission the project,” Mr. Nataraj said.

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