V.N. Chandran to be MD of KIAL

The government has sought the services of V.N. Chandran, Director of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for appointing him as the Managing Director (MD) of Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL).The decision to approach the AAI to get the services of Mr. Chandran on deputation comes in the wake of the Cabinet nod to appoint him as the MD of the KIAL in place of V. Thulasidas who resigned on April 30 after serving four-and-a-half years to become Adviser and Director Board member of Oman Air.Official sources told The Hindu that the government had decided to write to the AAI seeking that Mr. Chandran be relieved at the earliest so that formal orders on his new posting could be issued. Principal Secretary Tom Jose now holds the charge of the MD of the KIAL.The decision to appoint Mr. Chandran has come as a surprise in the aviation sector as the names of many, including senior IAS officials such as V.J. Kurian, MD of CIAL; Mr. Jose; and former AAI member P.S. Nair were doing the rounds.The new MD’s appointment comes at a time when the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the earthwork, runway, and pavements of the fourth international airport in the State near Mattannur in Kannur is to be awarded.
Biggest challenge
The biggest challenge for the new MD will be to stick to the schedule for making the Kannur airport operational by December 2015.Mr. Chandran, who has been serving as Director of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since June 26, 2012, is in the grade of General Manager, and was all set to be elevated as Executive Director in the AAI.He was transferred on October 21, 2010 from here as Airport Director, Bhubaneswar, following a controversy over commissioning of the Rs.300-crore international terminal complex that has come up on the city side.
Mr. Chandran, a native of Ernakulam, earlier served as Deputy General Manager (Air Traffic Control) here before being promoted as Airport Director
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/vn-chandran-to-be-md-of-kial/article4691181.ece