Thiruvananthapuram: Plan to expand the runway at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is unlikely to move forward during the current state govt’s tenure, as decisive steps on land acquisition remain pending and clearances from Union govt are yet to come through.The runway expansion, a key deliverable of the airport’s master plan and a statutory requirement under international civil aviation safety norms, hinges on acquiring roughly 22 acres, including a sensitive parcel currently held by BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd. The additional land is essential to develop the mandatory runway end safety area (RESA), a safety buffer designed to reduce risks during landing and take-off.
Originally slated for completion by Sept 2024, RESA works were repeatedly delayed as land acquisition procedures dragged on, prompting Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to extend the deadline while allowing the airport to continue operations. Despite multiple high-level meetings involving chief minister’s office (CMO) and senior officials, including K M Abraham, chief principal secretary to the chief minister, who oversees the project, no final decision was taken on moving ahead with the acquisition. State sources said the file was still under consideration at the CMO, and final clearances, particularly from Union ministry of defence for BrahMos land transfer, are awaited. “Several meetings took place in this regard. However, a final decision is yet to be taken. We expect clearance from the Union govt by the end of this month,” said an aviation department source. “Even after that, work can’t start immediately and will take at least three to four months to begin,” the source added. The land issue involving BrahMos Aerospace was a key sticking point. Plans to relocate the defence manufacturing unit to a proposed 186-acre site at Nettukaltheri near Neyyar Dam were discussed, but the ministry of defence has not yet given its approval. Additionally, portions of Chackai–Shanghumugham Road and relocation of Chackai fire and rescue station fall within the proposed expansion area, adding further complexity to the land acquisition exercise. Airport authorities and operators are under pressure to resolve the impasse as air traffic continues to grow, and modern safety and capacity upgrades, including the runway expansion and upcoming terminal works under Project Anantha, are vital for the airport’s competitiveness among southern Indian hubs. Authorities are eager to resolve the hurdles and implement the master plan. The state govt was proactive in clearing similar projects elsewhere, as evidenced by its approval in 2023 to acquire 12 acres for runway expansion at Calicut International Airport terminal. Despite repeated attempts, top officials, including Abraham, were unavailable for comment.
