Sabarimala airport project gets civil aviation ministry nod

20 Apr 2023 CW Team

A detailed project report (DPR) for the project would shortly be prepared by the government, according to sources. According to reports, "the government will quickly locate a competent agency to draught the DPR and begin the processes sooner rather than later." V Thulasidas, special officer for the Sabarimala Airport, confirmed the news and stated that by receiving the Civil Aviation Ministry's approval, the project has overcome a significant obstacle. "It was a drawn-out procedure because the Union Ministry requested a number of clarifications in response to our report.

We have reached a significant milestone in the technical side of the project because the sanction was granted following review by a steering committee under the Civil Aviation Ministry, which is made up of representatives from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airport Authority of India (AAI), and other government agencies involved in the airport project. We may now proceed with all subsequent steps, said Thulasidas.

Under the direction of the Centre for Management Development (CMD), the social impact assessment (SIA) study for the project in the villages of Erumeli South and Manimala is currently in its final stages. According to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act (LARRA), 2013, SIA is required for land acquisition. The techno-economic feasibility report for the project, which was created by Louis Berger, is also almost finished. Louis Berger is currently working on the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). For the project, earlier soil tests were carried out.

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has given approval for the proposed Sabarimala International Greenfield airport in Erumeli, marking a significant step forward in the state government's ambitions to establish an airport for pilgrims to Sabarimala. The state government's report on the techno-economic feasibility assessment was taken into consideration while approving the project. A detailed project report (DPR) for the project would shortly be prepared by the government, according to sources. According to reports, the government will quickly locate a competent agency to draught the DPR and begin the processes sooner rather than later. V Thulasidas, special officer for the Sabarimala Airport, confirmed the news and stated that by receiving the Civil Aviation Ministry's approval, the project has overcome a significant obstacle. It was a drawn-out procedure because the Union Ministry requested a number of clarifications in response to our report. We have reached a significant milestone in the technical side of the project because the sanction was granted following review by a steering committee under the Civil Aviation Ministry, which is made up of representatives from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airport Authority of India (AAI), and other government agencies involved in the airport project. We may now proceed with all subsequent steps, said Thulasidas. Under the direction of the Centre for Management Development (CMD), the social impact assessment (SIA) study for the project in the villages of Erumeli South and Manimala is currently in its final stages. According to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act (LARRA), 2013, SIA is required for land acquisition. The techno-economic feasibility report for the project, which was created by Louis Berger, is also almost finished. Louis Berger is currently working on the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). For the project, earlier soil tests were carried out.

Infrastructure Urban

05 May 2026

Meghalaya And Assam Hold Talks To End Transport Stoppages In Garo Hills

Meghalaya and Assam have opened talks aimed at ending recent stoppages of commodity transport in the Garo Hills, officials said. The deputy chief minister, in charge of home affairs, reported that both state governments are coordinating to resolve disruptions and to restore normal movement of goods. He acknowledged that misunderstandings may have contributed to the incidents and that clarification between administrative units is under way. The discussions are intended to produce practical arrangements that will allow consignments to move without hindrance while respecting local procedures. The..

Infrastructure Transport

05 May 2026

Kochi Metro Records 1.375 mn Rise In Passengers In FY26

Kochi Metro recorded a marginal rise in ridership in the financial year 2025-26, carrying 1.375 mn more passengers than in the previous year. The service carried 36.8 million (mn) passengers in 2025-26 compared with 35.5 mn in 2024-25, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.9 per cent. The growth was described as distributed rather than concentrated in isolated spikes. A month-wise analysis shows steady gains across quarters. In the first quarter, ridership increased from 8.57 mn to 8.84 mn, while the second quarter rose from 9.13 mn to 9.51 mn. These trends indicated broad-based improvemen..

Infrastructure Transport

05 May 2026

Ghaziabad Plans 16km Metro Link To Delhi Via Hindon Airport

Ghaziabad authorities are pursuing a 16 km metro link to Delhi that will run via Hindon Airport, and a detailed project report is under way. The plan is intended to improve connectivity between Ghaziabad and the national capital and to provide an interchange with the airport. Officials said the project is being studied to assess alignments, station locations and cost estimates ahead of formal approvals and tendering. The announcement follows the inauguration of the Delhi?Faridabad metro extension, which will offer hassle free travel for around 0.2 mn daily commuters between the national capita..