PM to lay foundation for new int'l terminal

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 19: Kerala Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Vijayakumar today informed the Assembly that Prime Minister Manmohan singh would lay the foundation stone for the new international terminal complex at the international airport here on November one, the 50th formation year of the state.

Replying to a submission by V Surendran Pillai (Kerala Congress (Joseph), he said the new world class terminal, to be constructed with glass and steel, would be a tourist attraction.

During his visit to the state, it was expected that Dr Manmohan Singh would declare other developmental activities of the airport open, like naming it the Gateway of India and setting up a refuel station.

Pointing out that the airport was situated in the international air route, he said if a refuel station was set up here, flights could be refuelled from here, which would get additional revenue for the country. Currently flights were refuelling at Sri Lanka, he added.

Mr Vijayakumar said the government had already handed over 27 acre of land to the Airport Authority of India out of 120 acre required for developmental activities. The process of acquiring the remaining land would be made on 'Fast Track' basis, which would help land owners get a good price for their land.

UNI