Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Kozhikode plane crash: 18 lives lost, 14 critical; political blame game continues over runway extension

New Delhi: Three days on since the air tragedy took place at Calicut International Airport, 18 lives have been lost and nearly 14 passengers continue to remain critical. While the investigation is underway to find out what led to the accident and with DGCA coming out and saying that the pilot touched down at 3000ft when the runway is at 9000ft, this has brought the focus back on the controversy surrounding the Calicut International Airport.

In an explosive revelation to Mirror Now, Shyam, who is the member of Airport Advisory Committee tells us that there is a huge lobby working behind to ensure that the runway is not extended and that the airport should not be expanded.

Calicut International Airport is of the four tabletop airports in the country. Spread across 378 acres, the airport terminal falls under the Kondotty municipality while the runway ends at Pulikkal panchayat.

It was during the tenure of former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran between 1991 and 1995 when the runway at Calicut International Airport was extended from 6000ft to 9000ft.

The subsequent years the chorus grew louder for the expansion of the airport and to extend the runway. However, the demand saw protests by the local residents residing in Pulikkal panchayat limits.

The residents protested against the lower compensation granted by the government. Since the demand for the expansion of the airport increased, in 2016, the Kerala government issued an order notifying that around 135 acres of land will be acquired and 20 acres additional land will be set aside for rehabilitation. However, the project got shelved after the Airport Authority of India realised it was too much of an investment.
10/08/20 Sreeja MS/TimesNowNews.com
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