Thiruvananthapuram: Former KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran has criticised the move by the central government to privatise the Thiruvananthap-uram International airport. He was speaking after inaugurating a pro-test meeting by the Thi-ruvananthapuram DCC. Sudheeran said under no circumstances can this move by the central government be justified.
He maintained that the move is mysterious when the Thiruvananthapuram airport has been reaping benefits. Sudheeran informed that during the 2017-18 fiscal year, the airport made a profit of '169.32 crore with the number of passengers also going high.
“If during 2011 -12 the total number of domestic and international passengers were 25 lakh, then during 2017 -18 it shot up to 44 lakh. Development activities have also been happening at a good pace. Recently 18 acre of land was acquired which would pave the way for the new terminal building for which '600 crore has been sanctioned”, said Sudheeran.
Former KPCC president maintained that despite being a profitable venture, the central government is trying to pass the buck on to private initiative.
He recalled that how the New Delhi Airport which was privatised saw the passengers at the receiving end with more expenses being slapped on them. Sudheeran maintained that people should come forward to stop the government’s move at any cost.
