Centre backs Kodumon airport project; study team to visit site next month

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Centre has given its full support to the proposal to build the Sabarimala airport at Kodumon in Pathanamthitta. A team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will visit the site next month to conduct a feasibility and technical study. The move follows a memorandum submitted by the BJP to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.

The team will examine the availability of land for the runway, flight safety, air routes and the distance from nearby airports, among other aspects.

A BJP delegation led by state general secretary Anoop Antony will meet Ram Mohan Naidu next week to discuss the project. Meanwhile, an action committee chaired by Dr Varghese Perayil has submitted a memorandum to the state government seeking the establishment of an airport at Kodumon.

Congress divided over Kodumon airport project

The Kodumon airport proposal has created confusion within the Congress. The party had earlier backed the Aranmula airport project under the leadership of Anto Antony MP.

The BJP and CPM, which had opposed the Aranmula project, have not expressed any opposition to the proposed airport at Kodumon. This has left the Congress divided over whether to support a project backed by parties that had opposed the Aranmula proposal. One section of Congress leaders believes that the party should not support the Kodumon project.

Adoor MLA C.V. Santhakumar had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan seeking an airport at Kodumon. The Chief Minister reportedly responded that the proposal could be considered. However, the matter has not yet been discussed within the UDF.

"We hope the state government will grant approval for the Kodumon airport project," said C.V. Santhakumar MLA.