Date:20/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/20/stories/2006102021020300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Airport poised for big expansion: Vijayakumar

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Airports Authority of India (AAI) has big plans for expanding the facilities in Thiruvananthapuram airport, Minister in-charge of Railways M. Vijayakumar has said.

Replying to a submission from Thiruvananthapuram West MLA V. Surendran Pillai in the State Assembly on Thursday, Mr. Vijayakumar said the new international terminal to be built at this airport would have nearly four times the passenger handling capacity as the existing one.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would lay the foundation for the terminal on November 1, during his scheduled visit to the State in connection with the 50th anniversary of the formation of the State.

The State had promised to provide 120 acres of land to the AAI for the planned expansion and, of this area, 27.56 acres had been acquired and handed over.

Air-India too would start work on a unit for the maintenance of aircraft in Thiruvananthapuram soon.

New traffic plan

The Government will soon prepare a master plan to overhaul the traffic system in the capital city, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told the Assembly on Thursday.

Responding to a calling attention motion moved by M.A. Wahid of the Congress, the Home Minister said the master plan would be prepared with the involvement of NATPAC, the Public Works Department, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and the police.