Mumbai, Oct. 8 -- Kerala BJP president and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar has asked Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu to commission a feasibility assessment of about 3,000 acres at Kodumon Estate in Pathanamthitta district for the proposed Sabarimala airport. Chandrasekhar submitted the proposal to the minister on 3 October, saying it had been put forward by senior BJP leaders Kummanam Rajasekharan and Anoop Antony.
The proposal requests discussions between the Centre and the Kerala government to examine the suitability of the Kodumon Estate site. It also seeks a feasibility study under the Greenfield Airports Policy, which governs the development of new airports in India. The assessment would determine whether the location can support the proposed airport and its related infrastructure.
Chandrasekhar said the site was close to Pampa and could offer an alternative air access point for pilgrims travelling to the Sabarimala temple. Pilgrims from other parts of India and overseas currently generally use airports in Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram before continuing their journeys by road to the pilgrimage centre.
The BJP MLA also connected the proposal with the requirements of expatriate families from Pathanamthitta and people travelling to other parts of the pilgrimage region. He cited airports serving pilgrimage destinations such as Shirdi and Tirupati while referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on connectivity for such centres.
A feasibility assessment would be an initial step and would not amount to approval for construction of the airport. Further decisions would depend on the site evaluation, consultations with the Kerala government, policy requirements and clearances from the relevant authorities. The proposal places the Kodumon Estate site among the locations being considered for improving access to Sabarimala and the wider region.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.