Thiruvananthapuram : Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to PM Narendra Modi seeking a review on the handover of Thiruvananthapuram airport made to the Adani Group. The letter points out how the centre’s decision on the airport in question, is unilateral and calls for a reconsideration on the matter.
The letter cites Centre’s rejection of several requests made by Kerala and underscores how the current airport handover was being made even as a petition against it, as directed by the Supreme Court, remains to be heard by the High Court.
CM also hinted that, it would be difficult to collaborate with a move that discounts state government’s point of view. With all assurances given by the Aviation Ministry to the State having been breached, it would not be possible for this government to cooperate with handover proceedings, the letter said.
The Backdrop
The state government arrayed facts showing how airports at Nedumbassery and Kannur have an excellent operational track - an argument the Centre chose to ignore. It also went on to dismiss state plea asking to be allowed to run Thiruvananthapuram airport and instead, transferred the airport’s management to private hands by handing over its operational, developmental and renovational to them for the next 50 years.
