The diversion of the road in front of the Chakka fire station and Brahmos to enable the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to construct the mandatory 300-m-wide basic strips of runway of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport figured at the airport advisory meeting held on Friday.
The AAI has approached the State for 13 acres of land belonging to BrahMos for constructing the runway strips (150 m on both sides), 31.5 acres on the Titanium side for threshold lighting of 1 km and for setting up Instrument Lighting System (ILS), and land from the Chakka fire station side for parallel taxiway.
At the meeting chaired by Shashi Tharoor, MP, at the Airport Director’s office, District Collector K. Vasuki said talks were on with BrahMos to acquire land. A defunct school had been identified near Veli for relocating the fire station of the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services. A canteen in the locality had been relocated to Muttathara.
The 3,373-m runway lacks the 150-m basic strip from the centre line on many stretches and the AAI had been securing licence for the airport through ‘temporary exemption’ for non-compliance of ICAO norms.
The Collector told the advisory committee that survey by the Revenue Department for acquiring 7.2 hectares from the Vallakadavu-Karali area for the AAI’s new domestic terminal had been completed. The district administration could overcome local opposition. Land will be acquired after the State government approves the package for the displaced, the meeting was told.
Chimney’s height
It was also decided to approach Industries Minister A. C. Moideen and the State-owned Travancore Titanium Products Ltd management to reduce the height of the chimney, located in the approach of the runway, from the present 31 m to 26 m. The chimney is an obstruction in the approach path for flights.
Dr. Tharoor said he had taken up with the Chief Commissioner of Customs the restoration of duty-free facility at the airport. Delay in commencing the courier cargo facility due to the lack of customs clearance was also taken up.
