Lok Sabha Question No. 399 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Modernisation of Airport Infrastructure in Kerala
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Shafi Parambil, Shri Benny Behanan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. : 399

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  19th March 2026 )

## MODERNISATION OF AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IN KERALA

## 399.      SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL

## SHRI BENNY BEHANAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to expand or modernise airport infrastructure in Kerala including runway extensions, safety area development, terminal  expansion  and  cargo  facilities  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  airportwise;
- (b) the total funds allocated and released by the Government for development and modernisation of airports and aviation safety infrastructure in Kerala during the last five years, year-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  safety  audits  of  airports  in Kerala  and  if  so,  the  findings  thereof  along  with  the  corrective  steps  taken thereon;
- (d) whether any proposal for establishment of new airports, airstrips or heliports has been received from the State Government of Kerala and if so, the current status thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to enhance international connectivity and increase flight frequency to and from Kerala?

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION                      (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  399  FOR REPLY ON 19.03.2026 REGARDING MODERNISATION OF AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IN KERALA ASKED BY SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL AND SHRI BENNY BEHANAN

(a): The expansion and modernization of airports is a continuous process and is undertaken by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other Airport Operators from time to  time  depending  on  the  traffic  demand,  operational  requirements and  demand from airlines.  In  Kerala,  at  Calicut  Airport,  AAI  has  undertaken development of additional Runway End Safety Area (RESA) on both the ends of  Runway  10-28.  At  Cochin  Airport,  the  airport  operator  has  undertaken expansion of the International Terminal (T-3) and apron. Further, at Thiruvananthapuram  Airport,  the  infrastructure  development  works  including expansion  of  Security  Hold  Area  at  Terminal  T-1,  taxiway  recarpeting  and augmentation  of  passenger  handling  capacity  at  Terminal  T-2  have  been undertaken.

(b):  The  infrastructure  development  works  are  generally  funded  by  airport operators  including  the  Airports  Authority  of  India  (AAI),  from  their  own resources. Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN),  Rs.  5500  crore  has  been  allocated  for  revival/upgradation  of unserved and underserved Airports/Heliports/Water Aerodromes.Out of this, a total of Rs. 4714.66 Cr. has been incurred.

(c):  The  Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  conducts  annual surveillance  inspections  of  licensed  airports  to  ensure  safe  airport  operations and to maintain infrastructure  in  compliance  with  civil  aviation  requirements. Observations arising from these inspections are communicated to the respective aerodrome  operators  for  necessary  corrective  action.  During  the  year  2025, around 91 observations were identified at airports in Kerala. All such observations  were  classified  as  Level  II  and  89  of  them  have  already  been closed  upon  completion  of  the  required  corrective  actions  by  the  aerodrome operators.

(d): In April, 2023, Government of India granted 'Site Clearance' to Kerala State Industrial  Development  Corporation  Limited  (KSIDC)  for  setting  up  of  a Greenfield Airport at Kottayam in Kerala. In July, 2025, KSIDC submitted the application  along  with  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  to  Ministry  of  Civil

Aviation (MoCA), seeking In-Principle approval. The Steering Committee has recommended grant of 'in-principle' approval for the project.

(e):  The  international  operations  of  airlines  are  governed  by  the  bilateral  Air Services  Agreement  (ASA)  between  India  and  the  respective  country.  In accordance with ASA, Indian designated carriers are free to mount operations to/from any international airport to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity  limits.  The  commencement  of  direct  international  flights  from  any point in India is purely a commercial decision of scheduled airlines on the basis of passenger demand, availability of slots, economic viability of the route and other associated factors.

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