Civil works for aircraft maintenance Base inaugurated

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 1 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today launched the civil works for the Air India's aircraft engineering maintenance base here, the second such unit in the country.

The work on the Rs 70 crore project is scheduled to be completed in 12 months, Air India Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas said.

He said the base would have the latest state-of-the art technology to service Boeing 737-800 type of aircrafts, flown under the Air India Express banner. It would be able to provide service to two 737-800 aircraft at a time.

The maintenance base would also be able to provide services to other airlines, including foreign carriers. Presently, such facility was available only in Mumbai.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the government had given 15 acres of land free of cost to the Air India for the project, adjacent to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

He said the maintenance base would be a major milestone in the development of the airport here as well as Air India.

Presiding over the function, Law Minister M Vijayakumar said along with the Rs 245 crore first phase development of Thiruvananthapuram Airport, the Centre had also approved Rs 255 crore second phase development.

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