Date:19/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/19/stories/2008101951370300.htm

Kerala

‘Airport expansion plan on track’

Staff Reporter

Second phase work of air cargo complex begins

Collector asked to expedite land acquisition: Karim
Modern facilities to be installed at cargo complex

KARIPUR: Minister for Industries Elamaram Karim said here on Saturday that public sector units had become the protectors of the country’s economy at a time when the world was reeling under economic crisis.

Even when banks and insurance companies were facing an economic collapse, the government was reaffirming its commitment to protecting the public sector units, he said.

The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the second phase of the expansion work of the Calicut Air Cargo Complex run by Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd. (KSIE) at a function held near the Calicut International Airport.

Meeting planned

He said efforts were on to acquire the land needed not only for the airport but for an expanded air cargo complex as well. A meeting would soon be held in Thiruvananthapuram to sort out the issues about acquisition.

Mr. Karim said the District Collector had been asked to expedite the land acquisition. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which currently owned the airport, had agreed to return the land acquired for expansion to the government if the airport was privatised, he added.

K. Mohammedunni Haji, MLA, presided over the function. District panchayat president Arimbra Mohammed, Customs Commissioner S.N. Balakrishnan, Airport Director Deepak Sastri, and Pallikkal grama panchayat president K.C. Saidalavi spoke.

KSIE Chairman Mammen Iype welcomed the gathering. KSIE managing director M.D. Josemon presented a report. Air Cargo Complex deputy general manager V. Sasikumar proposed a vote of thanks.

Project cost

Mr. Sasikumar said that the current phase of expansion would cost Rs.5 crore. A new administrative block of 2,140 sq.mt. area that could house the offices of Customs, airlines’, KSIE and other agencies would be the key component of the current phase of expansion. New cargo handling equipment and a commercial block outside the bonded area for providing full-fledged banking facility, cafeteria and other facilities such as public call office, fax, copying centre and so on would also be installed.

A cold storage to aid the export of perishable goods would also be set up as part of the current phase of expansion. However, according to KSIE officials, the cold storage is expected to cost much more money than sanctioned in the second phase.

The State government will acquire 15 acres of land for the KSIE along with the acquisition of land for the airport expansion.