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Airport Expansion Faces Green Hurdles
16 Jun
Summary
- Environmental clearance for airport expansion faces delays.
- Revised corporate environmental responsibility proposal requested.
- Expansion aims to boost passenger capacity to 27 million annually.
The State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) has deferred a decision on environmental clearance for the expansion of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport's T2 terminal. SEAC requires a revised corporate environmental responsibility (CER) proposal and additional clarifications from the project proponent. A recent coastal study confirmed that 19.05 hectares of the airport land is within CRZ-II limits, with the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority having already recommended the project.
The expansion project, which aims to increase passenger handling capacity to 27 million passengers per annum (MPPA) and cargo handling to 0.42 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), involves redeveloping Terminal 2, adding new forecourts, commercial areas, and a multi-level car park. The estimated investment for this comprehensive upgrade is Rs 8,707 crore.
Sustainability measures are also part of the plan, including a transition to 100% green electricity by FY27 and enhanced solar power generation. However, a public hearing conducted in August 2025 (relative to the temporal anchor of 2026-06-16) highlighted public concerns regarding land acquisition, potential canal pollution, tree felling, and local employment.
