New Kerala airport project in Idukki runs into protests

Thiruvananthapuram: Protests have marked the process of identifying land for the proposed new airport at Anakkara in Idukki district. Some of the protesters recently blocked the district administration officials including the collector when the latter arrived at the scene to allay doubts and concerns of the local people regarding the airport.

Reports quoting the district collector T. Bhaskaran said that a mob had deliberately created trouble on the day when leaders of different political parties and associations had been invited to discuss the details of the airport project.

The collector is expected to report the matter to the state government. The state government has earmarked Rs 50 million (Dh3.18 million) towards initial works for the project, and it is expected that an all-party meeting will be called again to discuss the details of the project.

Protests have also delayed the Aranmula International Airport in Pathanamthitta district, which is home to perhaps the most number of non-resident Indians (NRIs) from the state.

Kerala currently has three international airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumbassery and Kozhikode, but it is estimated that new airports at Kannur, Aranmula, Wayanad and Idukki will bolster the air connectivity in a state which has millions of NRIs.

Road infrastructure in Kerala is choked by traffic and, unlike in many other states, the sheer volume of international travellers passing through the state has highlighted the need for additional airports.