KOZHIKODE: Despite the recommendation by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to the state government in November last to submit a proposal for a Green field airport at Thiruvambadi in Kozhikode district in coordination with the Malabar Development Council (MDC), the state government is yet to clear the proposal, it is learned. Though the state government sought a report from the Thamarassery taluk tahsildar on the status of the land identified for the proposed airport, no other steps were taken so far towards materialising the dream project, it was pointed out. A delegation from the district had already met chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the issue.
It is to be recalled that AAI has ruled out possibilities to operate a big aircraft from Karipur until the runway expansion is completed, which resulted in the search for other alternatives. However MDC chairman C.E. Chakkunni told DC that the state government is on a positive note. We should first realise that operating big aircrafts from Karipur would be mere a dream. "Now what we need is a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) from the state government and a proposal for the airport through proper channel to AAI", he added.
"I hope the LDF ministry would act soon after the Kannur airport is operational", he added. The airport in Kannur, though in Malabar, is too far from Kozhikode and Malappuram. MDC has identified as many as 1,854 acres plantation land at Thiruvambadi which was attested earlier as ideal for airport by aviation experts. Those behind the project hope that either the CIAL model of Nedumbassery or the Build-Operate Transfer (BOT) method can be opted for the new project. Three companies have already evinced interest in the project.
