Friday 7 December 2012

Defence Ministry clears Idukki airport project


Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 7:  
The proposed feeder airport in Idukki district has received in-principle clearance from the Union Ministry of Defence.
This is stated in the document inviting expression of interest in the project prepared by Kerala State Industries Development Corporation (KSIDC).
BALL ROLLING
In this manner, ball has been set rolling for the development of a proposed feeder airport in the hilly district in central Kerala.
This jells with the ambition of the State Government of setting up airports at most district headquarters in the State, though conceived much earlier.
The proposed international airport in Kannur has reached a decisive stage where a consultant has been appointed. A private airport has been proposed for Aranmula in Pathanamthitta and the same has been since approved.
EOI INVITED
The proposed international airport in Kannur has reached a decisive stage where a consultant has been appointed. A private airport has been proposed for Aranmula in Pathanamthitta and the same has since been approved.
KSIDC has invited expression of interest for techno-economic feasibility study and environmental impact assessment of the Idukki project. The EOI document says that the demand for faster modes of passenger transportation to Idukki has been on the rise.
The district has seen a steadily increasing domestic and international tourist flow. Business/trading commuters are increasingly using the ‘commodity route’ leading to this ‘spice capital’ of Kerala.
Feeder aircraft services to Idukki and back from the present domestic and international airports in the State and from important centres such as Coimbatore and Madurai have been conspicuous by their absence.
Land has already been identified and Airports Authority of India has issued clearance for locating the project at the identified site. In-principle clearance has been secured from the Union Ministry of Defence.
The consultant shall prepare a master plan, taking due cognisance of developments that the airport may cause to happen in the hinterland. The report shall provide salient inputs for structuring the project on public-private participation (PPP) mode and arrive at the best pattern of capital structure.
The consultant shall approach this project keeping in mind the infrastructure and economic development of the entire region. It should therefore suggest a methodology to develop a multi-modal connectivity at the proposed airport terminal.
The consultant shall identify the planning requirements over a 30 year planning horizon for the facilities to handle the projected tourist traffic.
The consultant should also look at the possibilities of developing a techno industrial city; promotion of major tourism projects; and establishment/development of R&D institutions and commercial activities in the domains of biotechnology and agriculture.
vinson.kurian
@thehindu.co.in

KSIDC has invited expression of interest for techno-economic feasibility study and environmental impact assessment of the project.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-others/tp-states/defence-ministry-clears-idukki-airport-project/article4175685.ece

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