Latest news with #ProjectAnantha
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Centre delays green panel nod, airport expansion yet to take off
T'puram: Uncertainty looms large over the expansion of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, known as Project Anantha, due to administrative bottlenecks in obtaining environmental clearance. Centre's delay in approving the list of new committee members for State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), forwarded by state govt, is cited as the reason. Though state govt submitted the new list two months ago, Centre hasn't taken any decision on it. Originally scheduled to begin in April 2025, the project is now on hold after the previous SEIAA committee, responsible for reviewing and granting environmental approvals, expired on March 5. Even after four months, a new committee is yet to be formed, stalling progress on one of Kerala's most ambitious infrastructure developments. Airport operator Adani Airport Holdings Ltd submitted detailed plans for redeveloping terminals 1 and 2, which included a five-star hotel, underground parking, expanded passenger facilities and various commercial amenities. The revised master plan, which incorporated recommendations from ministry of environment, forest and climate change, was under review when SEIAA committee's term expired, effectively freezing all decisions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Passa a WINDTRE, attiva a 0€ Passa a WINDTRE Undo Although SEIAA requested some modifications, the process couldn't continue due to the committee's dissolution. As a result, critical approvals required to commence construction remain pending. Aviation secretary K Biju confirmed that state govt submitted a list of new SEIAA committee members to Union ministry of environment and forests for approval. He told TOI that once Centre gives the green light, the new committee will be constituted and clearing the airport terminal expansion will be treated as a top priority. Until then, no construction activity can begin. According to sources close to the airport, a public hearing is due before obtaining environmental clearance. The public hearing is for clearance from Kerala state pollution control board. "We are waiting for the public hearing to be called by the pollution control board. That has to be decided by the board. However, we have not been informed about the hearing so far. Besides, the initial proceedings for Project Anantha are also yet to be completed," a source said. Project Anantha aims to transform the airport into a major international gateway capable of handling 27 million passengers annually and 0.42 million tonnes of cargo. One major structural feature of the plan is vertical expansion of the terminal building, with two separate levels for domestic and international passengers. Demolition of the existing domestic terminal has been deferred until after 2027 and will be reconsidered in the next control period. Meanwhile, the airport has been experiencing a significant rise in both passenger traffic and flight operations, further straining its outdated infrastructure.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tvm airport expansion gets boost as funds are secured
T'puram: The expansion plans of city airport received a boost after Adani Airports raised $750 million in external commercial borrowings to enhance infrastructure at its six airports. Of this, Rs 1,300 crore will be allocated for Project Anantha and Rs 700 crore for other upgrades, including measures to support the expansion of non-aeronautical businesses like retail, food and beverages, duty-free and other services. The upgrades will begin soon, while the new project will start shortly after approvals are ready. An airport official said that funds were not an issue and the company would use its funds, but now the money was raised specifically for airport upgrades. "The project can now be taken up smoothly as dedicated funds have come. The money will be used to upgrade the six airports run by the group – Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangalore, Jaipur and Guwahati". Project Anantha envisages an investment of Rs 1,300 crore over three years for the expansion of Terminal 2. The existing 45,000 sq m currently handling 3.2 million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) will be enhanced to 1,65,000 sq m to handle almost 12 MPPA with a multi-level Curb Integrated Terminal. The new terminal will also have a forecourt with an airport plaza, a hotel, and a commercial and administration block. There will be more space for car parking. A new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, an international cargo complex and a remote check-in facility landside will create a completely new airport complex, said a statement from Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. "The clearances are the only thing that we are waiting for. The plan and the funds are ready," he added. A long-term expansion is also being considered, as the company submitted a broader masterplan worth Rs 3,000 crore to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority. This includes the redevelopment of Terminals 1 and 2 and other work designed to handle 27 million passengers by 2034. The airport already completed some of the upgrades, like runway recarpeting, improving ground lighting and airside signage. The refurbishment of Terminal 1 is ongoing as part of upgrade work and will be completed in two months.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Thiruvananthapuram airport gasps for breath as terminal capacity utilisation crosses 100%
Not only has the sky above Thiruvananthapuram become significantly busier now, but also the terminals of the airport here, considering the capacity of the terminals and the number of passengers handled. Though the airport witnessed a surge in passenger volume in the previous two financial years, an upgrade in infrastructure in tune with the increase in passengers and flight services, which is necessary for positioning Thiruvananthapuram as a rapidly evolving aviation hub, is yet to be materialised. The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has utilised around 97.90% of its terminal capacity in 2023-24 and over 100% in the just-concluded fiscal. In comparison, the capacity utilisation of Kannur, Kochi, and Kozhikode airports in the State was 13.09%, 41.46% and 50.31%, respectively, in 2023-24. The terminal capacity of the Thiruvananthapuram airport is 45 lakh passengers per annum, while the total passengers handled by the airport in the past fiscal were 48.90 lakh, a 10% increase compared to the 44.11 lakh travellers in the preceding financial year. On the other hand, the terminal capacity utilisation in the busy Kochi airport is close to 50%. Sources told The Hindu that the airport was now looking to expand its terminal area by taking up construction vertically. The international terminal would be expanded to handle 11.2 million passengers from the current 3.2 million as part of Project Anantha. The work would begin once the necessary permissions, including environmental clearance, were received. Similarly, the overcrowded domestic terminal, where the capacity utilisation was about 200% last year with the terminal handling around 26 lakh passengers against the capacity of 13 lakh, will be shifted to the newly built international terminal as part of a makeshift arrangement to facilitate the work on the domestic terminal. However, both the projects are expected to take time for completion. Work on the expansion of the security-hold area and canopy extension at the international terminal is at various stages. Land acquisition Recently, the State government has directed officials to fast-track the land acquisition for expanding the Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at the airport, a statutory requirement mandated by the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The RESA expansion had been delayed mainly due to administrative hurdles and disputes over lands.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
State govt directs revenue department to expedite land acquisition for Thiruvananthapuram airport runway expansion
Thiruvananthapuram: After months of delay, expansion of runway at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has gained fresh momentum, with the state govt directing officials to fast-track land acquisition and clear all related bottlenecks. At a high-level meeting chaired by chief principal secretary to the chief minister K M Abraham, the govt instructed the revenue department to expedite procedures for acquiring 22 acres of land needed for the development of the runway end safety area (RESA) — a critical aviation safety feature mandated by international standards. Originally scheduled for completion by Sept 2024, the RESA expansion project has been delayed due to administrative hurdles and land disputes. The latest govt intervention comes as a push to meet safety norms and accommodate the growing passenger traffic at the international airport. One of the major roadblocks to the expansion has been the 4.5 acres of land under BrahMos Aerospace Ltd, a sensitive defence installation. While the land is essential for the expansion, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Union ministry of defence and its transfer requires Centre's approval. The state govt is also working on identifying an alternative site for the Chackai fire and rescue station, which lies within the proposed expansion zone. Officials have also confirmed that portions of Chackai–Shanghumugham Road may need to be taken over for the project, however they reassured that the ITI at Chackai would remain unaffected. Aviation secretary K Biju told TOI that the expansion of the runway is a top priority for both operational safety and long-term development of the airport. "State govt is fully committed to completing the land acquisition process at the earliest. Coordination with the Union ministry of defence is also underway to resolve the BrahMos land issue," he said. The project, once completed, will improve safety margins for aircraft operations, particularly during emergency landings and in adverse weather conditions. It will also enable the airport to handle larger aircraft, enhancing its potential as a key aviation hub in southern India. Airport authorities and AAI officials have welcomed the govt's proactive stance, noting that RESA expansion was critical for retaining international operational certifications. Revenue and transport officials are expected to intensify measures to complete surveys, initiate compensation packages and begin formal land handovers in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the development of Terminal 2 (International) under Project Anantha is likely to be delayed due to pending environmental clearance from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority.
