Quilon Aerodrome

Last updated

Quilon Aerodrome

കൊല്ലം വിമാനനിലയം
Old Airport, Kollam.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner Madras Presidency (Till 1932)
Operator Kerala Public Works Department (PWD)
Serves Kollam(Quilon)
Location Asramam, Kollam
Closed1932
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)
Coordinates 8°53′38″N76°35′35″E / 8.894°N 76.593°E / 8.894; 76.593
Map
India location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct)
Location in Kollam, India
India Kerala location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct)
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct) (Kerala)
Location map India Kollam EN.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct)
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct) (Kollam)

Quilon Aerodrome or Kollam Airport was an aerodrome in the city of Kollam in the former state of Travancore, now in Kerala, India. [1] During the 1920s, there were no other civil aerodromes in the kingdoms of Cochin, Travancore and the Malabar District at the time of the British ruled Madras Presidency. With the commissioning of Trivandrum International Airport in 1932 at state capital 57 kilometres (35 mi) to the south, the aerodrome fell into disuse and came to be known as the Asramam Maidan.

Contents

The landing strip of the aerodrome was strengthened with red laterite soil from the adjoining hills because the local loose soil was unsuitable for the purpose. There were no buildings in the aerodrome, however, a circular concrete pad for parking aircraft was built. The aerodrome was under the control of the Public Works Department (PWD). The aerodrome was also used for training operations. These were stopped when an accident involving a training aircraft at the boundary of the aerodrome, resulted in the death of the pilot and the trainee. [2]

Proposal for an Aviation Academy at Old Airport

During 2009 -2012, local authorities made plans to revive the aerodrome for a flying academy [3] with a 4,000 foot runway for light aircraft. However, since the site was now surrounded by several high-rising structures like buildings and cell phone towers and the proposal met with objections from the local population, the plans were discarded. [4]

Revival of airstrip plans

Government of Kerala started plans to set-up 10 airstrips in Kerala including one at Asramam Old Airport area. In February 2020, the state government submitted a feasibility study report to Civil Aviation Ministry of India in this regard. [5] [6] [7] [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thiruvananthapuram International Airport</span> International airport serving Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, is an international airport that serves Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Established in 1932, it is the first airport in the state of Kerala and the fifth international airport of India, officially declared in 1991. It is the operating base of Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet. Spread over an area of 700 acres (280 ha), the airport is approximately 3.7 km (2.3 mi) due west from the city centre and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, 16 km (9.9 mi) from Kovalam beach, 13 km (8.1 mi) from Technopark and 21 km (13 mi) from the under-construction Vizhinjam International Seaport. It shares a visible proximity to Shankumugham Beach making it the nearest airport to a sea in India, just about 0.6 miles away from the sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cochin International Airport</span> International airport serving Kochi, Kerala, India

Cochin International Airport is an international airport serving the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located at Nedumbassery, about 25 km (16 mi) northeast of the city center. The airport is the first of its kind to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model in India. This project was funded by nearly 10,000 non-resident Indians from 32 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam</span> City in Kerala, India

Kollam, also known by its former name Quilon, is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is 71 km (44 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada river. Kollam is the fourth largest city in Kerala and is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. It is the southern gateway to the Backwaters of Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination. Kollam is one of the most historic cities with continuous settlements in India. The Malayalam calendar (Kollavarsham) is also known so with the name of the city Kollam. Geographically, Quilon formation seen around coastal cliffs of Ashtamudi Lake, represent sediments laid down in the Kerala basin that existed during Mio-Pliocene times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam district</span> District in Kerala, India

Kollam district, is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake. The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and the east side land of river is East Kallada and the west side land is West Kallada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adoor</span> Municipality in Kerala, India

Adoor is a municipality in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of the Adoor Taluk and Adoor Revenue Division. Adoor is located 13.2 km (8.2 mi) southwest of the district headquarters Pathanamthitta and 78.1 km (48.5 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alappuzha</span> City in Kerala, India

Alappuzha or Alleppey is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in state of Kerala, India. The Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in India which attracts millions of domestic and international tourists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. V. Raja</span> Indian sports official

Lt. Col. P. R. Godavarma Raja, often referred to as G. V. Raja, was an Indian sports and tourism promoter and administrator, pilot, sportsman and Sanskrit scholar. He took special care in inspiring the youth into sports and was instrumental in founding the Kerala Sports Council in 1953. G. V. Raja occupied the post of Council President till he was killed in a flight mishap in 1971. G. V. Raja also played a key role in establishing the Trivandrum Tennis Club, Flying Club, and the development of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. As the spouse of Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, he became the prince consort of Travancore.

Kerala Seaplane was a commercial seaplane service promoted by Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Limited in the Indian state of Kerala. It was launched on 2 June 2013 at Kollam with the inaugural flight being operated by Kairali Aviation. However, commercial operations could not start due to opposition from the local fishing community. The Kerala Government was keen on restarting regular operations of the project in 2014. The service was to be the first such service in mainland India, and the second in India after Jal Hans, which operates seaplanes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Work on the Kerala seaplane project began at the end of July, 2012 and has been praised for being one of the fastest projects to be completed in Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam Junction railway station</span> Railway station in Kerala, India

Kollam Junction railway station is a junction station situated in the city of Kollam in Kerala, India. It is the second largest railway station in Kerala in terms of area and largest in terms of number of tracks and one of the oldest railway stations in the state. It is also the second busiest railway station in Kerala in terms of trains handled per day. World's third longest railway platform is situated at Kollam railway station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam Port</span> Port in India

Kollam Port is one of the historic ports situated 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from Downtown Kollam ,14 km north of Paravur and 24 km north of Varkala Town It is the second largest port in Kerala by volume of cargo handled and facilities. Located on the south-west coast of India, under the name of Quilon Port it became one of the country's most important trade hubs from the ninth to the seventeenth centuries. Kollam was one of the five Indian ports visited by Ibn Battuta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kadappakada</span> Neighbourhood in Kollam, Kerala, India

Kadappakada or Kadappakkada is a neighbourhood and important junction in the city of Kollam, in the state of Kerala, India. NH 744, that connects Kollam with Tirumangalam meets the Asramam Link Road at Kadappakada junction. Most of the times the authorities are diverting the traffic in National Highways through the Link road, if required.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asramam Maidan</span>

The Asramam Maidanam or Ashramam Maithanam is an urban park, or maidhanam, in the city of Kollam, in Kerala, India. At 72 acres (29 ha), it is the largest open space within Kerala Municipal Corporation limits. The maidan is considered one of the green lungs of the city and regularly hosts the city's main cultural and sports events. It holds an adventure park children's park, picnic village, British Residency and mangrove forests making it an important tourism spot in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam International Hockey Stadium</span>

The International Synthetic Turf Hockey Stadium is a hockey stadium situated at the city of Kollam, first of its kind in Kerala state, with a nominal capacity of around 5,000 seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polayathode</span> Neighbourhood in Kollam, Kerala, India

Polayathode or Polayathodu is one of the fastest growing neighbourhoods of the city of Kollam, in the state of Kerala, India. It is situated at National Highways – NH 66. Kerala Police have identified Polayathode as one of the traffic black spots in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asramam Link Road</span>

The Asramam Link Road is an important four-lane city road in Kollam in the Indian state of Kerala. This road was formerly known as Airport Road or Aerodrome Road as it was the connection road to Kollam Airport, the one and only airport in the entire Kerala coast then. The road starts from Kappalandimukku near Polayathode in the east and currently ends at KSRTC, but is ultimately planned to extend to Thoppilkadavu in the west of the city. The Rs.114 crore worth third phase of construction includes a 3 km long flyover, which would extend it from Kollam KSRTC Bus Station to Thoppilkadavu, is going on now.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asramam</span> Neighbourhood in Kollam, Kerala, India

Asramam or Ashramam is one of the prime locations in Kollam city of Kerala, India. It is one among the 55 wards of Kollam Municipal Corporation. Asramam is a notable place in the city because of the presence of old airport, public/private institutions, tourism destinations, parks, hospitals, maidan etc. Asramam Maidan, the biggest open space now existing in any of the Kerala Municipal Corporation limits is situated at Asramam. The first airport in the state of Kerala, Kollam Airport, was functioned in this maidan. Asramam is the headquarters of the Kollam branches of Indian Medical Association and Sports Authority of India. Link Road, one of the important roads in the city, passing through Asramam. The one and only International Hockey Stadium in the state is at Asramam. srenarayana open university asramam walk way around the asramam ground

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cantonment Maidan</span>

Cantonment Maidan or Peeranki Maidan or Peeringee Maidan is a historical ground in the eastern portion of Old Quilon town, near S.N College, in Kerala, India. It is closely associated with the social and political history of Kerala. It hosts the main exhibitions, party meetings and city's main cultural and sports events regularly. Vanitha Fest, Mango Fest, Kollam Bible Convention, Kerala Kaumudi Centenary Expo, various political party meets, Rallies, Cricket & Football Tournaments and other public functions are regularly taking place at Cantonment Maidan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Kollam</span>

Transport in Kollam includes various modes of road, rail and water transportation in the city and its suburbs. State-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses, private buses, Indian Railways, state-owned Kerala State Water Transport Department boats & ferry, taxis and auto rickshaws are serving the city of Kollam. The city had a strong commercial reputation since the days of the Phoenicians and Romans. Ibn Battuta mentioned Kollam Port as one of the five Indian ports he had seen during the course of his twenty-four year travels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eravipuram Assembly constituency</span> Constituency of the Kerala legislative assembly in India

Eravipuram is a legislative assembly constituency in the southern coastal area of Kollam district in Kerala, India. It is one among the 11 assembly constituencies in the district. As of the 2016 assembly elections, the current MLA is M. Noushad of CPI(M).

References

  1. "National Cashew Day: Export celebrates 100 years; first export done from Kollam". Mathrubhumi. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  2. "Aviation school proposal evokes mixed response". The Hindu. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  3. "Runway: Team visits Asramam Maidan". TNIE. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  4. "'Asramam Maidan not suitable for airport'". TNIE. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  5. "Kerala plans airstrips to connect tourists spots". The Week. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. "Kerala may soon have a string of airstrips-heliports to connect tourists spots". Live Mint. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  7. "A CABLE OF RUNWAY-HELIPORT FOR CONNECTING TRAVELER PLACES IN KERALA SHORTLY". Sahiwal.tv. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  8. "Kerala plans airstrips to connect tourists spots". Yahoo News. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.