By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Kozhikode: The Calicut International Airport Advisory Committee (AAC) has ensured steps to address the development woes of the airport, shunning mounting apprehensions. While briefing the AAC meeting, held here at Hotel Taj Residency on Saturday, chairman E Ahmed and IUML MP said the committee has formulated meticulous plan to sort out the issues, impeding the comprehensive development of the airport.
“No need to worry over the proposed re-carpeting and re-strengthening works. The re-strengthening works will be completed within 18 months once they begin in a full swing in September,” E Ahmed said.
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The committee meeting also decided to take up not only restore the services, which has stalled owing to the present temporary closure, but to further enhance it in order to ease the sufferings of the expatriates.
“The present condition of the airport defies operation of wide body aircrafts. Talks will be held with the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Civil Aviation Ministry authorities and flight companies to start more services of medium body aircrafts,” said AAC member E T Mohammed Basheer MP.
Adding that the committee will take up every possible effort, Basheer said that letters will be sent to the flight companies requesting to hold more services from the airport.
In a bid to ensure the completion of works in a time bound manner the committee decided to implement an effective monitoring system, where the working schedule and progress will be published in the official website of the airport to help the public to evaluate the efficiency of the authorities.
The meeting came through the land acquisition issue, which impeded the widening of the airport.
Basheer said that a package has been drafted to implement the comprehensive development of the airport. As per the package, 157 acre of land, 137 for development and 20 acre for rehabilitation, will be acquired by the authorities.
Exuding his confidence in working out the package Basheer said the protests by the local residents could be sorted out if the people’s representatives and various organisations join their hand for the cause.
To ensure the smooth implementation of the package local committees will be formed with the cooperation of various stakeholders and representatives of local self governing bodies in addition to the high level committee, led by the Chief Minister, MLAs and MPs. “Meetings will be convened in every phase to reach to a consensus and to avert the apprehensions of local residents,” Basheer said.
MLAs KNA Khader and Muhammedunny Haji, airport director K Janardhanan were also present.