Silver jubilee does not bring cheer to Karipur airport users

KOZHIKODE: The development of the airport and lack of passenger amenities remain major concerns even as the Karipur International Airport celebrated its silver jubilee on Sunday.
The development of the airport, which was inaugurated in April 1988, has been pending for a long time due to the issues related with land acquisition. The Airports Authority of India awaits the transfer of additional land from the state government for infrastructural projects.
The airport has only 24 emigration officers compared to 60 at Thiruvananthapuram airport and 200 at Kochi airport. Different organizations sought appointment of more emigration officers as the shortage has been forcing passengers to wait for hours for emigration clearance.
"Lack of labourers and scanners force passengers to wait for hours to get their luggages back," said M P M Mubasheer, secretary, Malabar Chamber of Commerce. Due to the lack of amenities several passengers prefer Kochi airport, he said.
Airport officials say new passenger amenities and facilities like international arrival block at a cost of Rs 125 crore, new apron parking stand for Rs 30 crore, airport emergency medical centre, automated air traffic service centre and ADS-B surveillance system, advanced bomb detection and disposal system inspection are in the various stages of execution and completion.
The airport on an average handles 50 aircraft daily, including arrivals and departures, with majority of them operating in international routes. Last year the airport handled 20 lakh passengers registering an increase of two lakh passengers compared to last year's 18 lakh.
Kozhikode: Even as the Karipur International Airport celebrated its silver jubilee on Sunday, development of the airport and increasing of passenger amenities remain major concerns.
The airport, which was inaugurated in April 1988, does not have adequate facilities to meet the requirements of passengers, according to passengers and trade bodies. The development of the airport has been pending for a long time due to the issues related land acquisition. According to the Airports Authority of India, it is awaiting the transfer of additional land from the state government for taking up infrastructural projects.
The airport also does not have enough emigration officers and different organizations have been demanding for appointing of enough emigration officers as the Airport has only 24 emigration officers compared to the 60 of the Thiruvananthapuram airport and 200 of Kochin airport. The shortage of emigration officers has been causing many difficulties to the passengers as they are being forced to wait for hours for emigration clearance.
"Despite the increase in the passenger traffic over the years, the airport does not have amenities for the passengers. Due to the lack of labourers and scanners have to wait for hours to get their luggages, said, M P M Mubasheer, secretary, Malabar Chamber of Commerce. He added that due to the lack of amenities here several passengers prefer Kochi airport.
Last year the airport handled 20 lakh passengers registering an increase of two lakh passengers from the previous year's 18 lakh. The airport on an average handles 50 airplanes, including arrivals and departures, with majority of them being operating in international routes.
Mubasheer expressed the concern that with the Kannur airport start functioning significance of the Karipur International Airport is likely decrease if steps have not taken for its development.
According to the airport officials, new passenger amenities and facilities such as international arrival block at a cost of 125 Crores, new apron parking stand at a cost of 30 Crores, airport emergency medical centre, automated air traffic service centre and ADS-B Surveillance System, the first of its kind in Kerala, advanced bomb detection and disposal system inspection are in the various stages of execution and completion.