Kannur/Thiruvananthapuram: The upcoming Kannur International Airport would witness the landing of its first test flight on the 29th of this month, Minister in-charge of airports K. Babu announced in the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday.
The event will be attended by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, other ministers and top officials. A public event will also be held at the airport premises that day.
Kannur Airport, second to be built under PPP route after Nedumbassery International Airport at Kochi, has received permission from Director General of Civil Aviation to conduct trial run using Code-B- Aircraft, Babu said, adding "aircraft has also been received from Defence Ministry."
The preparations for the test flight are at its final stage. The UDF government is keen on opening the airport before the dates for the State Assembly elections are announced, in order to gain political mileage, presenting the airport among its achievements.
Works of the 2,400-metre runway, 65 per cent of the terminal building and 80 per cent of the airport apron have been completed so far.
"Estimated cost of the project is Rs 1892 crore," he said.
Over 600 people are currently engaged in various works at the airport, situated at Mattannur, 25 kilometres from Kannur town. The government is hoping that commercial operation of the airport will start in September.
Around 350 metres of the 3,400-metre area is yet to be overtaken by the government. Meanwhile, the government has also decided to expand the airport to 4,000 metres.
Expansion of the Airport was proposed in two stages. Facilities would be made to link countries like UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Singapore in the first phase itself, he said.
State government has 35 per cent stake in the Kannur International Airport Ltd Company that will run the Airport. Public Sector Undertakings has 25 per cent shares, Private participation 30 per cent and KIAL 10 per cent.
Construction work of the airport was inaugurated by then Defence Minister and senior Congress leader A K Antony on February 2, 2014. The test flight was supposed to take place on December 31.
Kannur Airport will be the fourth international airport in the state, the others being in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.
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