Kochi: The plans for Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to operationalise its new international terminal (T3) have failed to take off with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) manning security at the airport not being able to deploy 362 additional personnel so far. It was on March 11 that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan officially launched commercial operations and everybody expected it to be full-fledged in ten days. However, according to sources, the inability of CISF to deploy the additional security personnel has become the lone reason for stalling the plans even after three weeks. The T3 has 15 lakh sqft area.
Interestingly, when Oommen Chandy was the chief minister, another inauguration of the terminal took place in February 2016, but then it was made clear that it would take more time to make it commercially operational. CIAL has deposited Rs 4.75 crore towards the salary of the CISF personnel, and it left no commitment to fulfil on its part in this regard. “Everybody expected the CISF to take charge at T3 after the Assembly elections in five states on March 11, but it has not initiated steps in this regard throwing a spoke in the wheel of CIAL,” said one of the sources.
“The T3 is now ready with all other facilities. The airlines have set up offices, the emigration and customs counters too are fully equipped. Shops are being set up one after another. Medical care facility is ready. CIAL will be able to operationalise the terminal in the right manner only if the services are launched as a whole and not in parts. So the airport company is waiting for the deployment of the CISF personnel. The Union ministry of home affairs had long back given the nod for their deployment.” Only when the T3 becomes operational that the CIAL will be able to shift its T2 to T1, that is making the present international terminal into the domestic terminal and retain T2 exclusively for chartered aircraft.
