The Kannur airport, which is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore, is the fourth airport in Kerala, the other three being the Thiruvananthapuram airport, Nedumbassery airport near Kochi and the Karipur airport near Kozhikode.

Reports have it that work on a fifth airport near Aranmula in Alappuzha district is likely to begin before the end of 2010.

The largest and the most modern airport of Kerala is coming up on 2061 acres of land at Mattannur Moorkhanparamba in Kannur. Of this, 1287 acres of land have already been acquired.

A key factor, which has facilitated hassle-free land acquisition for the airport project has been the excellent rehabilitation package put in place by the State Government.

The Kannur airport has a lot to commend itself. The country’s first environment-friendly airport, Kannur airport will boast a 3,400-metre-long runway, a taxi track to the Parking Bay of the same length, a convention centre and a maintenance hangar, among other things.

The airport, which will put Kannur firmly on the country’s aviation map, will be of tremendous benefit to air passengers of the region ranging from Vadakara to Kasargod in Kerala and the Gulf-bound passengers hailing from Coorg in Karnataka.

At present people staying in this belt have to depend on either the Karipur airport near Kozhikode or the Mangalore airport, which is a tension-ridden and costly proposition. The coming up of the Kannur airport, which is expected to be completed in three years has come as a godsend for the people of the North Malabar region.

Needless to say, the airport will also provide a big fillip to the tourism industry and the fast-developing hospitality industry, which is expected to generate 25 crore jobs by 2013.

A company, called the Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) will be in charge of constructing the airport. It will have 51 per cent shares from the public sector and 49 per cent from the private and cooperative sectors.

The response from the private investors has been very encouraging, according to the Managing Director of the KAIL, Mr V. Tulasidas.

There are indications that the Thiruvananthapuram Aviation Academy will soon start its unit in the region.

The dream project of Keralites in general and people in the north Malabar region in particular has become a reality after decades of delays, planning and politics. The foundation-laying ceremony was to have taken place, originally in November 2009. But the process got delayed because of a variety of reasons, including land acquisition hassles and non-availability of the Civil Aviation Minister Mr Praful Patel for the inauguration ceremony.

Last but not the least, it is a matter of satisfaction for the LDF Government that the Kannur airport project has taken off before the expiry of its term which is coming to an end in May 2011. (IPA)