Land for Thiruvananthapuram airport still up in air

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has been repeatedly directing the officials to expedite the land acquisition for the Thiruvananthapuram international airport,  the follow-up steps are  progressing  at a snail's pace. According to sources, though the government had decided to conduct a social impact assessment (SIA) of the 18 acres of land to be acquired, a formal agreement was yet to be finalised with the institution, the Loyola College of Social Sciences here, which was assigned the work in March.

A  team made a preliminary assessment and proposed the cost for conducting the SIA.   The government is yet to give a formal order to the Loyola College authorities. “The college would initiate the SIA  after getting the government orders.   Thereafter,  it will make  an in-depth assessment of the socio-economic conditions of the locality within three months. Compensation will be  decided afterwards," sources told DC.

The demand of  the Airports Authority of India for more land for expanding the terminal on Chakkai side has been pending for long.  The expansion of the terminal is also vital for enhancing the air connectivity to the capital. While the resistance of local people against land acquisition was the major hurdle till recently, it was decided to undertake the SIA  following talks initiated by the chief minister.  Subsequently,  the local people cooperated with revenue officials in demarcating  the required land. But  no further steps were taken.   The AAI plans to expand the existing terminal and make it an integrated one for domestic and international operations once the 18 acres is acquired.