Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Make Calicut Airport Operational. on 13 May, 2015
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Need to make Calicut Airport operational.
SHRI E. AHAMED (MALAPPURAM): Madam, I want to raise a very important matter, which affects many people from Southern India. The matter is about Karippur Airport, which is also known as Calicut International Airport. It is the fifth airport in the matter of income under the Airport Authority of India (AAI). This airport is dealing with overseas passengers to destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Kuwait etc. and domestic connections to Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Kochi. Earning of the airport to Airport Authority of India and Air India shows the importance of this airport.
So far, the airport has been operating Boeing 747 Jumbo aircrafts and 777 – 200 and 300 series besides all other small aircrafts including Airbus 320. Air Port Authority of India should have taken up the re-carpeting and strengthening of the airport much earlier. But, unfortunately, all of a sudden, they found that this airport cannot be made operational for bigger aircrafts like Boeing 777 or 747. This airport is used for Haj operations. Besides this, a large number of people of Indian origin living in Saudi Arabia use this airport for travelling to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
Now, the Airport Authority of India finds that this airport cannot be made operational due to technical reasons. Such an important airport, which earned for the nation, should have been taken care of much earlier. But the Airport Authority of India in the matter of Calicut airport is creating difficulties for the people. Haj operations may have been changed from Calicut.
More than that, in the name of re-carpeting or strengthening of the airport, the operation of flights from airport have been stopped for many months. This is really causing great hardships and difficulties.
Anyway, I would only urge the Government to complete repairing and strengthening of the airport and make it operational as early as possible. Due to this, Haj pilgrims from Kerala are also facing a lot of inconvenience. Air India as well as other foreign airlines like Saudi Airlines and Emirates has been operating from Calicut Airport. But the Airport Authority of India has completely stopped the operation of Boeing 777 and 747 Jumbo Aircrafts due to security reasons.
In this respect, the Government of India through Director General of Civil Aviation should approach Air India as well as foreign airlines like Saudi Airlines, Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways to operate small aircrafts like Airbus 333 series and others – if not Jumbo and 777 aircrafts – from Calicut Airport so as to ease the difficulties faced by travelling passengers. Air India should also take steps to start a shuttle service with smaller aircrafts between Cochin and Calicut.… (Interruptions)
HON. SPEAKER: Please conclude Ahamed ji. You have already read two pages.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI E. AHAMED: Madam, this is a very important issue.
I also take this opportunity to say that some arrangements should be made to connect Calicut to Cochin through some small aircrafts. … (Interruptions) The Airport Authority of India should take some steps to help the people because Calicut is far away from Delhi… (Interruptions) Are they not able to see that? That is why, I am asking it. You should see India as a whole. … (Interruptions)
HON. SPEAKER: It is all right. Please sit down.
Now, Prof. Saugata Roy.
… (Interruptions)
HON. SPEAKER: Ahamed ji, you have completed. You have raised your issue very nicely.
… (Interruptions)
HON. SPEAKER: Nobody is saying no to it.
Saugata Roy ji, please raise your issue.
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PROF. SAUGATA ROY (DUM DUM): He is a senior Member. I am just waiting him to finish his speech. … (Interruptions)
HON. SPEAKER: He has raised his issue. He has already read two pages. He got sufficient time.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI E. AHAMED: In my parliamentary career of 25 years, I did not make such a request before. … (Interruptions) The operations at Calicut Airport have been stopped. … (Interruptions) Haj operations should be shifted from Calicut.… (Interruptions) To whom should we go but for this House? This is the House where we can come. … (Interruptions) You are such a large-hearted Speaker.… (Interruptions) Therefore, I would request you to direct the Government.… (Interruptions)
HON. SPEAKER: S/Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, M.I. Shanavas, M.K. Raghavan, M.B. Rajesh, P.K. Biju, A. Sampath, C.N. Jayadevan, Adv. Joice George and Kumari Shobha Karandlaje are permitted to associate with the issue raised by Shri E. Ahamed.