The government has taken steps to expedite the acquisition of 485.3 acres for the extension of the runway to accommodate jumbo aircraft at the Karipur international airport, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the Assembly on Monday.
Replying to a calling attention motion moved by P. Abdul Hamid, he said the existing runway length of 2850 metres would not allow the operation of bigger aircraft.
Besides extending the runway to 3400m, it would also require expansion of the runway strip to 300m and the construction of a parallel taxiway and runway end safety area of 240m.
The required land, he said, would be handed over to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) after the acquisition process.
Mr. Vijayan told the House that the Director General of Civil Aviation had directed the AAI to resubmit its recommendation for the extension of the runway. He added that the government was stepping up pressure on the Centre to permit the operation of bigger aircraft from the Karipur airport to benefit Haj pilgrims also.
Kochi Metro
Replying to a submission moved by Roji M. John in the House, the Chief Minister said the second phase of the first leg of the Kochi Metro running upto Pettah would be completed by June 2019. Procedures had been initiated for the work on the stretch from Pettah to Thrippunithura.
The revised project report for the second line of the metro from the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Kaloor via Kakkanad to Infopark was under the consideration of the State government.
The project would be taken up after getting the approval of the Central government, he added.
