Expansion work of airports to be speeded up

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 8 (PTI) Land acquisition process for the expansion of Kozhikode and Thiruvanathapuram airports and for construction of Kannur airport would be speeded up, Kerala Excise and Port Minister K Babu said here today. A decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting of Airport Authority of India officials and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here, he told reporters here. For the expansion of Kozhikode airport, 175 acres would be acquired. About 126 famililes had to be evicted for the purpose, he said, adding, a committee headed by State Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty had been constituted to hold talks with the local people. More than 82 acres would be acquired for second stage of expansion of Thiruvananthapuram airport, he said. During Onam festival season, Air-India would operate a 40- seater flight service on Kozhikode-Kochi-Thiruvananthapuram sector, Babu added.