Sabarimala Greenfield Airport

Last updated

Sabarimala International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
Serves Kottayam, Sabarimala, Pathanamthitta
Location Manimala & Erumely, Kottayam District
Elevation  AMSL 4 m / 13 ft
Coordinates 9°27′51″N76°48′20″E / 9.464083°N 76.805579°E / 9.464083; 76.805579
Website sabariairport.in
Map
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Sabarimala International Airport
Location of airport in Kerala
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Sabarimala International Airport
Sabarimala International Airport (India)
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
mft
08/26 [1] 3,50011,482
Sabarimala Greenfield Airport
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2km
1.2miles
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Sabari International Airport (Proposed)

Sabarimala International Greenfield Airport [2] ( IATA : none, ICAO : none), [3] [1] is a proposed greenfield international airport, that will cater to the cities of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, as well as the pilgrimage site of Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district. The airport will be built in between the towns of Erumeli South and Manimala. Pathanamthitta is the nearest major urban center to the proposed site. The proposed site is 53.9 km [4] away from Sabarimala temple, 9.2 km [5] away from Kanjirappally town and 9 km away from Ranni town. The site is located at about 40 km from the city of Kottayam. The site is spread over 2,570 acres (10.4 km2) of area. [6] It is 136 km from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, and 113 km from Kochi. Upon commissioning, this will be the fifth international airport in Kerala, giving the state the distinction of having the most international airports in India. [1]

Contents

History

The Sabarimala temple, situated on the Western Ghats in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district and is one of India's holiest shrines, which attracts nearly around 50 million visitors each season. [7] As of December 2019, an average of 75,000 pilgrims visit Sabarimala on a daily basis ever since the beginning of the annual pilgrim season in mid-November. [8] Presently, the only way to reach the hill shrine is by road. The increase in the number of pilgrims visiting the temple had prompted the government to look at an airport as an option to reduce traffic congestion during the pilgrimage season. [6] In view of this, in February 2017, the Government of Kerala gave in-principle approval to construct the airport, and the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) was asked to conduct a feasibility study. [9]

KSIDC had issued global tenders for the feasibility study of the project. The tender was won by the American consultancy firm, Louis Berger Group. Louis Berger submitted a techno-economic feasibility study and environmental impact assessment of the proposed greenfield airport in December 2018. [10] However, the consultancy did not conduct the environment impact assessment (EIA) as the state had not taken a final decision on the project including that of land acquisition. [11] In 2019, the state government constituted a search committee to select a special officer for the project, who would be given the task of coordinating with the consultancy in acquiring environment impact clearances and for the union civil aviation ministry’s approval for the project. [11] In December 2019, the state government appointed V. Thulasidas, the managing director of Kannur International Airport Ltd. (KIAL) as the special officer for the project. [12] In April 2023, after a long delayed and complicated process as mentioned above, the project got approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and preparation of the project's Detailed Project Report (DPR) is expected to begin within a month. [1]

Ownership

The site for the proposed airport is nearby the Cheruvally Estate, which was formerly the site of a rubber plantation. [13] Initially, the estate belonged to Harrison Plantations and later by the RPG Goenka group. Gospel for Asia, a Christian missionary organization under Believers Eastern Church took it over from the Goenka group. The ownership of the property was disputed in 2017 before the High Court of Kerala claiming that the Estate was government land. [14] A 2018 High Court order affirmed the church's ownership of the estate. [15]

Project timeline

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district situated about 38 km (24 mi) away from the district capital, in the state of Kerala, in southwestern India.

Mundakayam, is a town in Kanjirappally Taluk in the Kottayam District of Kerala. It is the doorway to the high ranges of southern Kerala, and is at the border of Kottayam and Idukki districts. The next nearest town, Kanjirappally, is 14 km (8.7 mi) & Erumely is 12 km from Mundakayam. Mundakayam has rubber plantations, and greenery. The Manimala River runs through Mundakayam. It is located 48 km east of the district headquarters at Kottayam and 148 km from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. The name Mundakayam is said to be derived from the Mundi cranes that used to be seen along the Manimala River banks.

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

Aranmula is a temple town in the state of Kerala, India. It is known as the cultural capital of Pathanamthitta district, located at a distance of around 116 km from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, it is situated on the banks of the river Pampa. A centre of pilgrimage from time immemorial and a trade post of eminence, when the river was the chief means of transport, it is near Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta District. It is easily accessible from Chengannur railway station (10km). It is one of the Fastest Growing Village. Aranmula, along with the majority of Pathanamthitta district, was part of the Quilon division or Central Travancore division of Travancore. On November 1, 1982, Pathanamthitta district was established.

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

Ponkunnam is a census town in Kerala, India, part of Kottayam district under Kanjirappally taluk. Ponkunnam literally means golden mountain (ponn = gold, kunn = mountain). Nearby towns are Kanjirappalli, Pampady, Manimala and Pala. This part of Kerala is famous for its fertile land and rubber plantations. It is at an altitude of 495 ft (151 m) above mean sea level. The town is at the junction of two major roads in Kerala: NH 183 and Main Eastern Highway. The climate is moderate with timely cold breezes and the town is the gateway to the Western Ghats. The town is famous for its volleyball traditions and customs. Almost every year there is an ever-rolling volleyball tournament happening in Ponkunnam Mahatma Gandhi Mini Stadium.

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

Pathanamthitta, is a municipality situated in the Southern Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37,538. The Hindu pilgrim centre Sabarimala is situated in the Pathanamthitta district; as the main transport hub to Sabarimala, the town is known as the 'Pilgrim Capital of Kerala'. Pathanamthitta District, the thirteenth revenue district of the State of Kerala, was formed with effect from 1 November 1982, with headquarters at Pathanamthitta. Forest covers more than half of the total area of the District. Pathanamthitta District ranks the 7th in area in the State. The district has its borders with Allepey, Kottayam, Kollam and Idukki districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Nearest town is Thiruvalla, located at a distance of 30 km. Thiruvalla railway station is 30 km via Thiruvalla-Kumbazha highway. Buses ply every 5 Minutes from Thiruvalla To Pathanamthitta & vice versa.

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

Erumely, also spelt Erumeli, is a town and panchayat located in the south-eastern part of Kottayam district in Kerala state, India. Erumely is situated 49 km (30 mi) east of Kottayam town and 133 km (83 mi) north of capital city Thiruvananthapuram. The village is on the Manimala River.

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

Cheruvally is a Village in Chirakkadavu panchayat of Kottayam district in Kerala. It is in Kanjirappally taluk, Kottayam district. There is a Bhadrakali temple viz., Cheruvally Devi Temple in Cheruvally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Eastern Highway</span> Highway in Kerala, India

The Main Eastern Highway is the lifeline of the high range townships of the midlands and highlands of eastern kerala Kerala state, India. It is also known as Punalur-Muvattupuzha Highway. Main Eastern Highway is categorized as State Highway - 08 of Kerala. It is the second longest State Highway of Kerala covering a distance of 153.6 km. The districts it passes through are Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam.

Perunad (Ranni-Perunad) is a scenic hilly village in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala state, India. Thiruvalla is the nearest railway station located at a distance of 58 km (36 mi). It's located on the banks of Pamba River and Kakkad River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kannur International Airport</span> International Airport in Kannur, Kerala, India

Kannur International Airport is an international airport serving the city of Kannur and the North Malabar region of Kerala, Kodagu district of Karnataka and Mahé district of Puducherry in India. It is located 28 km (17 mi) east of Kannur, and 24 km (15 mi) east of Thalassery, near the municipality of Mattannur in Thalassery taluka of Kannur district. It is owned and operated by Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL), a public–private consortium. The airport opened for commercial operations on 9 December 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chengannur railway station</span> 3rd main station in alleppy

Chengannur railway station is an NSG–3 category Indian railway station in Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is located in Chengannur town of Kerala. It is one of the busiest stations in the Thiruvananthapuram Central–Kollam Junction–Kottayam–Ernakulam route, primarily due to the Sabarimala pilgrims. Chengannur railway station mainly serves the people of Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nilakkal</span> Pilgrimage centre in Kerala, India

Nilakkal, also spelled Nilackal, is an important base camp of Sabarimala Hindu pilgrims located in Ranni tehsil of Pathanamthitta district in the Indian state of Kerala. Sabarimala temple is located at a distance of 23 km (14 mi) from Nilakkal.

Thulappally is a small village in Perunad panchayath of Ranni tehsil in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state, India.

Sabarimala Railway is a proposed 111-kilometre (69 mi)-long railway line in Kerala, India, that will run from Angamaly to Erumeli. It was sanctioned in 1998 by Indian Railways. The line's name comes from the fact that it will provide a railway facility to pilgrims visiting the Sabarimala Temple.

Kanamala Village in Kerala, India

Kanamala, commonly known by the name Pambavalley, is a village in Erumely panchayath in Kanjirappally tehsil of Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is situated in the border of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, but officially recorded as a part of Kottayam district only.

Punchavayal is a village in Mundakayam panchayath of Kanjirappally taluk in the Indian state of Kerala. It is approximately 6 km away by road from Mundakayam, and is at the border of Kottayam and Idukki districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line</span> Kochi-kottayam-kayamkulam line

The Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line is a railway line which runs through the districts of Ernakulam, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha in Kerala state of India. This railway line starts as a branch line from Ernakulam Town railway station towards Kottayam and joins with the Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line route via Alappuzha at Kayamkulam Junction. This line comes under the Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway Zone of Indian Railways. The line has a total distance of 118 km (73 mi). The Ernakulam Town/Ernakulam Junction - Kottayam section opened in 1956-57 and Kottayam - Kollam section in 1957.

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

Vizhikkithodu is a village located on the banks of river Manimala in Kanjirapally panchayath in Kottayam district of Kerala. Kanjirapally is the nearest town to this village and is located at a distance of 6 km. The Ponkunnam-Erumeli Road, which is one of the main roads for Sabarimala pilgrims passes through this village.

Kerala Rail Development Corporation d/b/a Kerala-Rail is a public sector joint venture company under the ownership of the Government of Kerala for the railway infrastructure development in Kerala. The company was incorporated on 3 January 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sabarimala greenfield airport receives clearance from Civil Aviation Ministry –Kerala's Kottayam to get big connectivity boost". Times Now. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sabarimala greenfield airport: Kerala govt orders acquisition of land". The News Minute. 18 June 2020.
  3. ↑ DOCUMENTATION KERALA (PDF). Secretariat of The Kerala Legislature. p. 61. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "Cheruvally Estate to Sabarimala (13 km)". Cheruvally Estate to Sabarimala. Google Maps. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "Cheruvally Estate to Kanjirappally". Cheruvally Estate to Kanjirappally. Google Maps. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Kerala's next airport to come up in Kanjirappally | Kerala new airport | Kerala next airport | Sabarimala airport". English.manoramaonline.com. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "Kerala to set up airport in Kanjirapally to cater to Sabarimala hill shrine". The Financial Express . 20 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "It's slow progress for Sabarimala pilgrims". The Hindu . 25 December 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Sabarimala airport to come up on Cheruvally estate". The Hindu . 19 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Erumely airport report gathers dust". Deccan Chronicle . 2 October 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 "Sabarimala airport project: Special officer to be selected in a month". The New Indian Express . 2 August 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Thiruvananthapuram: Kial MD special officer for Sabarimala airport project". The Times of India . 11 December 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "Sabarimala airport: the century-old Cheruvally Estate was a British aerial discovery | Sabarimala airport | Cheruvally Estate | British aerial discovery | Erumely airport | Sabarimala pilgrims | Kerala". English.manoramaonline.com. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  14. ↑ "Cheruvally estate is government land, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan". Deccan Chronicle .
  15. ↑ "Harrisons case setback may cost Kerala government dear in Erumeli airport project". The New Indian Express . 13 April 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  16. ↑ "Sabarimala Greenfield Airport has got site, defence clearance from Centre: Kerala govt". English.Mathrubhumi. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sabarimala-airport-digital-mapping-of-project-area-begins/article67580057.ece https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/kial-md-spl-officer-for-sabari-airport-project/articleshow/72464046.cms

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