Government of Kerala, vide G.O. (Ms). No.13/2017/Trans dtd. 21.02.2017, accorded in-principle approval for setting up a Greenfield Airport in Kottayam District, to serve the pilgrims of Sabarimala Temple, provide fillip to tourism and local economy of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki districts, and to provide enhanced connectivity for the global Malayali diaspora. The development of the project, which when commissioned will be the 5th International Airport in the State, has been accorded ‘priority’ status by the State Government. KSIDC was entrusted by the Government with the task of identifying a technically competent agency for conducting the Techno Economic Feasibility Study (TEFS) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the project. KSIDC was also engaged as the Nodal Agency for acquiring suitable land near Sabarimala, for setting up the project.
Following a competitive bidding process and approval from Government, KSIDC engaged M/s. Louis Berger Consulting Pvt. Ltd. as the Consultant for undertaking the TEF study and EIA study for the project, and to facilitate necessary clearances from central government/ agencies for the project. The Government also appointed Shri. V. Thulasidas IAS (Retd.), former Managing Director, Kannur International Airport Ltd. and former CMD, Air India, as the Special Officer for the project. The Airport is proposed to be set up in around 2570 acres of land in Erumeli, Kottayam District, commonly known by the name Cheruvally Estate. The site is centrally located near the proposed SH59 (Hill Highway), 50 km from Pamba, and 40 km from Kottayam Town. The location is close enough for easy connectivity to Pamba, but far enough to ensure no disturbance to the Sabarimala Temple and its activities. Geotechnical investigations done in the project site have confirmed that the site is suitable for setting up an Airport.
The TEFS Report was prepared by the Consultant during May 2022, which was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India, for according necessary ‘site clearance’ for the proposed airport. As per the Master Plan, the airport will have of runway length not less than 3500 metre on 08/26 alignment. The views of central agencies like DGCA and AAI were duly taken into consideration during the feasibility study stage itself, based on which the TEFS report was finetuned. EIA study have commenced at the project site, as also preliminary activities towards land acquisition, like initiation of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study. The spatial data pertaining to the Sabarimala Greenfield Airport Project has been integrated to the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan portal maintained by BISAG-N. Site clearance from MoCA is expected to be obtained for the Airport project very soon.
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