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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Aug 8

A HIGH-LEVEL meeting convened by the Chief Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, has decided to launch a series of initiatives with a view to expanding and developing the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport along modern lines.

The visiting Union Civil Aviation Secretary, Mr Roy Paul, along with officials of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and a number of Ministers from the State Government, was also present at the meeting.

Expansion of the airport would require acquisition of 130 acres, of which necessary formalities would be completed with respect to 27 acres within the next six months.

An all-party meeting would be convened soon to arrive at a consensus on the nitty-gritty of acquiring the rest of the land, according to the Chief Minister.

All local MLAs, MPs, Mayor of the Corporation and representatives of various political parties would be invited to air their views at this meeting.

On his part, the Union Civil Aviation Secretary assured that the Centre would not be found wanting in extending required support for developing the airport.

He expressed the Centre's willingness to undertake the civil works for the purpose. Necessary steps would be taken to settle the various passenger complaints.

Mr Roy Paul also said that the Centre was particularly interested in the development of the Kochi International Airport.

It was suggested at the meeting that the Chief Minister take up with the Union Civil Aviation Minister the issue of the Centre subscribing to the equity capital of Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), the private-public partnership that runs the airport in Kochi, much in the line of what the State Government has already done.

In the overall context of the international airports at Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad being promoted as the gateways to Southern India, it is being expected that Kochi will get its due in the emerging dispensation.

As for Kozhikode, tenders have been floated for installation of night landing facilities at the airport.

The Civil Aviation Secretary, who is also the Chairman of Air India, assured the Non-Resident Keralites Welfare Agency that his department would seriously apply its mind on how to come to terms with a series of problems highlighted in a representation that had been submitted.

He made special mention about the need for allowing a passenger to accompany, on specially discounted fare, the last homeward journey of those who die outside the country.

As per extant arrangements, the bodies are being flown free to various destinations in the country.

Earlier, the Minister for Non-Resident Keralites Affairs, Mr M.M. Hassan, met with Mr Roy Paul to brief him about the various issues.

Mr Hassan called for rationalisation of fares in the Gulf sector from various destinations in South India.

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