Thiruvananthapuram: The sea runway proposed for the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport would be a game-changer for the state economy, according to Capital Region Development Project (CRDP) report. Plans are afoot to build a runway in seawater parallel to the Shanmugham beach on the lines of sea runways in Dubai and Singapore, and the new facility, which is on the Kerala government’s drawing board, would make Thiruvananthapuram the civil aviation hub of south India.
The capital city would also become the refueling point for the wide-body cargo planes, and the trading opportunities are galore as the upcoming Vizhinjam International Seaport is just 20 km away from the airport. The project would also be a shot in the arm for various industries, including IT sector.
Paucity of space
Though the government is acquiring 18 acre land for the development of the airport, which records a yearly growth of 13 percent in passenger traffic, more land would be needed in the future. The rate of increase in passenger traffic at the airport is one of the highest among the aerodromes in the country but there is no scope for expanding the current runway. There are fears that the airport would lose its licence if the runway near to the Brhamos Aerospace Limited building is not expanded. Further land cannot be acquired as many families could be displaced due to land acquisition. The CRDP had put forward sea runway as a solution to the problem in hand.
Cost Effective
The cost of building a sea runway is lesser than acquiring land for expanding the runway, according to the report. Extensive dredging is not required as the sea bed along the coastline here is firm and strong. Considering the limitations of the airport here and the future growth, there were discussions on constructing a new airport here. The move was fuelled by Tamil Nadu’s plans to build an airport in Kanyakumari, which is 90 km from here. As plenty of land is available in Tamil Nadu, chances are that the new airport would have extensive infrastructure, which could be a setback for the Thiruvananthapuram airport.
PPP can help out
The Centre’s recent nod to lease out Thiruvananthapuram airport through public-private participation (PPP) would augur well for the sea runway project, said T Balakrishnan, CRDP convenor and former Additional Chief Secretary.
The project was presented before the state government before the Union Cabinet decision to lease out the airport, and the government was also informed that huge investment was needed to execute the project. Now, the prospects are better as corporates may be willing to pump money into the project.
Will the project get green nod?
The vexing question is that whether the project will get the requisite environment clearance. Some of the encouraging signs are that the Centre had given approval for construction activities in the sea for the raising of Shivaji statue and building the Navi Mumbai airport in a ecosensitive area. Union Minister for Road Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari had recently stated that relevant norms would be relaxed for the construction of port and airports. The Coastal Regulation Zone draft has also proposed easing of rules for development projects.
The CRDP reports pointed out that sea runway would effectively stem sea erosion that is adversely affecting places such as Shangumugham and Valiyathura.
Flyover to connect terminal and sea runway
A flyover will connect the sea runway with the terminal building of the airport. As per the project blueprint, the aircraft that lands on the sea runway can taxi through the flyover and reach the parking bay near to the airport terminal. The proposal is to construct the flyover, which would have a width to accommodate two planes, from the entrance of the domestic terminal.
Challenges aplenty
The main concern is the environmental impact on the Arabian Sea. There are concerns that the construction of runway in seawater is against the interest of the fishermen folk.
State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was critical of the Centre’s decision to lease out six airports, including the Thiruvananthapuram airport, through PPP, but it needs to be seen whether the government would change its stand for the sea runway project.