By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Calicut: More land will be acquired for the development of the Calicut International Airport at Karippur, said Revenue Minister KP Rajendran. Besides the 136 acres already acquired, an addition of 20 acres also will be acquired by fast-track for purposes of rehabilitation of those disposed from their lands. The Cabinet will discuss the matter and make a decision today, he added.
The Minister said that the measures for acquisition have been taken on the draft report submitted by the Airport Authority of India. A committee of officers would be appointed for the acquisition and related matters, as in the case of the land acquisition for the AMU regional centre in Malappuram.
MK Raghavan, MP of Kozhikode, had last month informed that the Airport Authority of India had decided to give permission for the development plan of Rs 120 crores for the airport. The development plans include the construction of a new international arrival hall, multi-level computerized car parking, changes in the domestic terminal, etc. The development of the approach road to the airport is also under consideration.
Though the total land needed for the development of the airport is 378.21 acres, the state government is acquiring only 137 acres, according to reports.
The airport at Karippur is the only one in Malabar, where most of the families have members working abroad, especially in the gulf countries. Though the traffic is high, the airport has not been developed much. There have been protests by organizations (eg, by the Solidarity Youth Movement) demanding the development of the airport. However, action on the demand of long time was taken only recently.
The airport situates at Karippur near Kondotty in Malappuram district, though it is known as Calicut International Airport. It is reportedly the third busiest airport in Kerala after the airports at Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, and the 12th busiest in the country in terms of passenger traffic and 11th in cargo handling.