The Kannur international airport is one big step closer to fruition with the Prime Minister including it in the list of three airport projects for fast-tracking.
Kannur managed to get a mention along with the greenfield airports in Navi Mumbai and Goa at a meeting the Prime Minister had with infrastructure ministries yesterday.
FOURTH IN STATE
When completed in 2015 as projected, Kannur will become the fourth international airport in the State. Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode are the existing airports.
Only specific clearances from the Ministries of Environment and Forests, Home and the office of the Director-General of Civil Aviation are awaited for the project.
Pre-qualification tenders for the earthwork have been invited. The State government is about to float global tenders for the construction of the runway.
The second phase of acquisition of land identified for the project, measuring 782 acres, will be set into motion very soon.
SHARE HOLDING
The State government will hold 26 per cent of the equity and government-owned institutions, 23 per cent.
Two per cent will be held by other institutions promoted by the government and the remaining 49 per cent open to subscription by private individuals and institutions.
They include qualified institutional investors, individuals, companies, cooperative banks or societies and other legal entities.
A request for proposal has been floated for selecting a project consultant for the greenfield international airport. Cochin International Airport Ltd has been engaged as the consultant for the detailed project report and the main runway.
TOR APPROVED
The Centre for Earth Science Studies, Kerala, and Environmental Engineers and Consultants, New Delhi, are consultants for environmental impact assessment study.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has approved the terms of reference for environmental impact assessment.
The special purpose vehicle, Kannur International Airport Ltd, has already taken steps for mobilising equity and debt required for the project.