Thiruvananthapuram : Bribe got the better of bidding in Thiruvananthapuram airport sell-out where, the Kerala government was refused the airport’s takeover though it offered an amount equivalent of that bid by Adani Enterprise and insider voices are now growing louder about how BJP state leadership on massive bribes, sidelined BMS’s objection and sculpted a decision in favour of the Adanis.
When Centre first announced its privatisation plans for Thiruvananthapuram airport, the state government sprung into action and conveyed its readiness to take it over. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan placed the proposition directly with the Prime Minister and Aviation Minister. CM pursued the matter with two detailed letters to PM and three to the Aviation Minister. All requests were conveniently ignored and in the first half of 2019, the central cabinet passed its decision for tis planned handover, even as the State governemnt petition against the move rested with the High Court,.
Thiruvananthapuram airport at that point sat on a profit of Rs 170 crore, an amount that was expected to spiral spectacularly by 2025 in estimates made then for which, developmental works of nearly Rs 600 crore were carried out at the airport and the state government had just commenced proceedings to acquire 18 more acres for further expansion.
Thiruvananthapuram airport is one of the safest terminals in the world. Designed to stay operational in all-weather conditions, the airport, has an excellent accident-free track record to its credit. Also, being situated close to the international air route, several airplanes stop by to refuel themselves at the airport - a potential that brings in substantial income. These are the dynamics despite which, the centre is putting the airport into private hands and that too as expansion works that began earlier are still in progress.
