The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has given its nod for the construction of the proposed Rs.1,130-crore international airport in Kannur. The first phase of the greenfield airport will be completed by next year.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Friday that the State would now go for an international bid for commencing the construction activity. The project would come up on 525.50 hectares, with a proposed built-up area of 50,000 sq m. It would be 2 km from Mattannur on the Kannur-Mattannur-Mysore road.
When completed, Kerala will be the first State in the country to have four international airports.
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry had given its approval in 2008.
Chandy meets Rahul
Earlier, Mr. Chandy met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi here and discussed political issues, including the ongoing solar panel scam controversy. Alleging political conspiracy by the LDF against him and his government, Mr. Chandy said his government was open to investigation. “But before completing the police investigation, if a judicial inquiry is ordered, then culprits will get a chance to escape,” he said.
About a possible Cabinet reshuffle and inducting KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala into it, the Chief Minister said, “I am the happiest man for that.”
