T’puram: The long-pending proposal to obtain environmental clearance (EC) for expansion of the international terminal at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is finally set to come up for consideration before State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) on Saturday. This marks a major step forward for one of the state’s most significant infrastructure projects after months of delay at State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). Once the EC recommendation is obtained from the committee, it will go for final clearance from the SEIAA, which is also expected soon. After this, the construction of the airport terminal will begin.According to the agenda of 209th SEAC-1 meeting scheduled for Friday and Saturday, the proposal titled ‘Proposed Expansion of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to Enhance Passenger Handling Capacity up to 27 MPPA and Cargo Handling Capacity up to 0.42 MTPA’ has been listed for appraisal. The project has been submitted by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, which operates the airport through its subsidiary. Airport sources said the proposal had been awaiting movement at SEIAA level for several months, delaying the environmental clearance process necessary for the ambitious Terminal 2 expansion project.The expansion is considered critical in view of the steady rise in passenger traffic, especially international travellers from the Gulf region and Southeast Asian countries. “With the SEAC finally taking it up for appraisal, stakeholders are hopeful that the environmental clearance process will now gather momentum,” a source close to the development said.The proposed expansion aims to increase the airport’s passenger handling capacity to 27 million passengers per annum (MPPA), a substantial jump from the current capacity. Cargo handling capacity is also proposed to be increased to 0.42 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA), strengthening the airport’s role as a major logistics and export hub in southern India.Officials familiar with the project said the development plan includes a large-scale expansion of Terminal 2, upgraded passenger processing systems, extended floors, expanded immigration and security check facilities, modern baggage handling systems and improved aircraft parking infrastructure. The airside development worth Rs 650 crore is already in progress with ULCCS securing the contract for the work. The revamped terminal is expected to incorporate energy-efficient and sustainable infrastructure features, including rainwater harvesting systems, improved waste management mechanisms, energy-saving lighting and green building concepts in line with modern airport development standards.Plans are also understood to include expanded parking facilities in both T1 and T2, improved road connectivity within the airport premises and upgraded passenger amenities such as lounges, retail spaces and food courts. Since the airport was taken over by the Adani Group in 2021, several modernisation initiatives have been announced to transform the airport into a major international aviation hub for southern Kerala. The airport currently handles direct services to major Gulf destinations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Muscat and Kuwait, apart from international connectivity to Colombo, Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives. Industry observers say the expansion is essential considering the increasing passenger load and the strategic importance of the airport, which serves not only southern Kerala but also parts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Tourism stakeholders and expatriate organisations have also been demanding faster expansion of international facilities to address congestion during peak travel seasons.
