KOCHI,
JAN. 2:
With
all requisite clearances in hand, the Chennai-based KGS Group of companies is
all set to start work on the Aranmula International Airport project.
Gigi
George, Managing Director, KGS Aranmula International Airport Ltd, said the
work on the Rs 2,000-crore project would commence in the second week of this
month and is expected to be ready for airport operations by December 2014.
In
the first phase, he said 2-km of runway will be developed followed by laying of
approach road and other remaining works.
During
an interaction with media persons here, he said that the company has in its
possession 450 acres in Aranmula and was aiming to have 700 acres in the area.
The project is located at the central Travancore belt and the company is
targeting the NRI population, the tourism sector and the pilgrimage travel
prospects of the region for its success. According to George, around 40 per
cent of Kerala’s air traffic originates from within 40 km radius of the
proposed airport. Kerala Government had also evinced interest in taking a 10
per cent stake in the project, which will provide the Government with a berth
in the board of directors of the airport company.
However,
a Cabinet decision in this regard is awaited, he said adding, that the project
will have a total equity portion of Rs 700 crore.
Asked
whether Cochin International Airport will lose its prominence once the new
airport starts functioning, he said according to the aviation policy,
2/3{+r}{+d} of the traffic has to be generated from the 50 km vicinity and only
1/3{+r}{+d} diversion is expected. “Diversion is not our priority but traffic
generation, as India is going to witness an aviation boom in the coming years
with growth in domestic passenger traffic”, he said. Quoting figures, he said
domestic passenger throughput is expected to touch 209 million by FY17 from 106
million in FY11.
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