The Rs 300 crore world class terminal of Thiruvananthapuram International Air port,which will be commissioned on Saturday,12th February,2011, is a feather in the cap of Kerala, which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its entry in to the civil aviation of its entry in to the civil aviation map.
Flight services to and from Thiruvananthapuram launched during the reign of sri Chitra Tirunal Balarama Varma, the former ruler of erstwhile Travancore revolutionised the aviation sector and operations to west Asia.It was the DH 83 Fox moth air craft owned by pioneer aviator Jehanzir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata that landed at the airport at Chaka on October 29,1935 paving the way for the states entry in to the aviation map. the state now has three international air ports at Thiruvananthapuram,Nedumbaserry and Karipur.
The air port was accorded international status in 1991 during the tenure of the then Prime Minister V.P Singh. the premier air port of the state was the fifth air port in the country after the airports in the major metros to get the status. The need for a new world class terminal for Thiruvananthapuram airport was felt as the existing terminal on the Shanghumughom side had already been saturated and there was no scope for expansion as the air port could only handle 4.02 lakh passengers a year.The state acquired in the initial phase 27 acres and the foundation stone was laid by the then union civil Aviation Minister SharadYadav in July 2000. the state spent Rs 40 crore for the approach road and bridge etc Rs 100 crore has been spent by the state for acquiring land.
Prof. John Kurakar
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