The Shangumugham International Airport in the Kerala state capital is progressing every year in terms of passenger numbers. Two years ago, 31 lakh passengers travelled from here, but in 2024, it increased to 49.17 lakh. Adani's company will be managing the Thiruvananthapuram airport for the next fifty years as part of the central policy of handing over the country's leading airports to the private sector. The state government and employee unions were strongly opposed to handing over the airport to Adani. However, in the open auction, it was the Adani group that bagged the bid to run Thiruvananthapuram airport. Since the Adani Company has taken over the management of the airport, various development works have been going on there.

More domestic services have been started. There are hundreds of flights from here every day. More than fifteen thousand passengers travel through these flights daily. There is also an increase in cargo exports to foreign countries. Three thousand crore worth of development projects have also been started. Thiruvananthapuram Airport, the first airport in the state, is growing proudly. Despite this, the obstacles in getting the land required for the development of the airport are still continuing. The process of acquiring and handing over thirteen acres of land for the development of the current second terminal had reached its final stage before Adani took over the management. Not only did the government withdraw from this after the management was handed over to the private company, but it also showed stubbornness that under no circumstances would it help take over the land!

The deal, in which even the compensation amount was finalized, has been stalled for more than three years. There is a clamour from all quarters for the development of the airport, but the government is unshaken. This is due to continuing resentment over not getting the management of the airport. The government does not remember that it is denying the rights of lakhs of air passengers, not Adani. Now another crisis has happened. It has been a long time since the Central Aviation Department started demanding that land be made available for the development of the existing runway to accommodate larger aircrafts. 12 acres of land adjacent to the runway at Chacka is needed. It is the place where institutions including BrahMos and Fire Force operate. This is probably why the government is reluctant to release the land. However, the Centre has warned that if an immediate decision is not taken and communicated, the development of the runway and hence the arrival of large aircraft will be stalled.

It is strange that while the all-round growth and development of the capital city is going on smoothly in one area, there is a stand that it is not needed in the case of the airport. Thiruvananthapuram Airport has the least amount of land among the airports in the state. The land area of ​​the nominally serviced Kannur airport is about 4000 acres. Thiruvananthapuram, on the other hand, does not have even seven hundred acres. The reason for the stunted growth of this airport, which was supposed to develop on many levels, is the people who are in charge. Behind this is the long-standing lack of interest and neglect towards Thiruvananthapuram. However, since airport development is for the people, there should not be a biased approach. The government should not delay in acquiring the land required for runway development.