The Calicut International Airport at Karipur appears certain to lose its runway length by 160 metres on both ends. Unless the government makes a solid intervention, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will soon begin work to shorten the 2,860-metre runway to 2,540 metres for the construction of 240-metre runway end safety area (RESA) on both ends.
AAI officials have written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reminding him that the State government had not responded to the demand for 14.5 acres of filled land for construction of RESA at both ends of the runway. The AAI has warned the State that it will go ahead with the RESA work by cutting short the runway.
The construction of RESA by reducing the runway length by 320 metres will seriously affect the future growth of the airport. “It will be as good as clipping the wings of Calicut International Airport,” said Abdussamad Samadani, MP of Malappuram.
