An airport doesn't become one just because aircraft lands there as it needs several supporting facilities that include good roads, hotels, emergency services etc. Kannur airport, which will have the code CNN for international use, is now visible on the air route radar. The airport, which is being readied, will benefit its intended users only if myriad support facilities are developed. As of now, only a 3-km road from Vayanthod on the national highway to the airport alone has been widened and developed, while around half a dozen roads leading to the airport are so narrow that they are sure to become bottlenecks once flights start operations. Meanwhile, its nearby area is woefully short of ancillary infrastructure.
The following roads need to be widened:
• Kuttyadi-Perod-Peringathur-Panoor-Mattannur
• Mananthavadi-Boys Town-Peravur-Shivapuram-Mattannur
• Thalassery-Koduvalli Gate-Mambaram-Airport
• Kuttapuzha bridge-Iritti-Mattannur-Vayanthod
• Taliparamba-Chorukala-Nanicheri bridge-Mayyil-Chalod
• Mele Chowwa-Chalod-Vayanthod-Airport
The Road Fund Board was entrusted the other day to develop the first two into 25-m wide roads. The other roads are in the survey stage.
Rail line
Two surveys were carried out for a rail link from Kannur South (Thazhe Chowwa) to the airport at Mattannur. A report submitted based on the surveys said a line can be laid via Elayavoor, Echoor, Koodali and Chalod without acquiring land.
Work on the 22-km line can begin once the economic survey is also completed. The 2016 Railway Budget had stated that the work can commence if the state government extends cooperation. A provision was made in the railway budget four years ago for a survey on the Azheekal line, but there had been no follow-up.
A rail link is also under consideration between Valapattanam and Azheekal port. An 8-km rail line is needed. If the line is linked up with Mattannur, the airport could consider cargo flights as well.
No lodgings nearby
Kannur city is 27 km from Moorkhanparambu at Mattannur, where the airport is getting ready. The distance to Thalassery is also the same. It will be hard for those who need to catch an early morning flight or for those who land post-midnight to reach Kannur or Thalassery to find a place to stay overnight. There are more than 40 hotels in the 5 km vicinity of Kochi airport, but there is none around Kannur airport.
The Kannur International Airport Limited or KIAL is pondering only a day hotel, but the area needs a hotel open day and night. Passengers will also have to be accommodated if a flight gets delayed.
A hospital with all modern facilities is a must at the airport or nearby at Mattannur. The Mattannur government hospital does not even have the grade of a taluk hospital. There are no good private hospitals either in the town. A hospital can be set up using the airport land. If it is a private hospital, KIAL gets a revenue as well from the let-out land.
Airport city
Majority of the airports are built outside cities as there is a need for over 1,000 acres of land. The area around the airport then develops into an urban area. In short, it is not just an airport that is built, but an airport city.
Moorkhanparambu, the Kannur airport location, has to be developed in a similar fashion. A township is required with facilities like roads, hospitals, hotels, fine dining restaurant, club, theatre, school, shopping centre, playground, apartment complex etc.
KIAL promises an airport village outside the terminal, but that is purely for passengers to spend time. What is needed is not a village, but a town.
Security
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will provide 634 personnel for airport duties. The Immigration department needs 145, the Customs 78 and the ground handling section 1,500 staff members. The fire force has been given training and provided with two fire stations and four fire engines made abroad.
Other services
The upcoming airport has completed tenders for procurement of office furniture, passenger baggage trolley, foreign exchange counter, public relations, food and beverage, ATM, line maintenance. The tenders are currently being processed for cargo complex, CISF barrack, administration block, washrooms, duty free shop, flight kitchen, medical emergency service, baggage wrapping facility, baggage trolley retreival, wi-fi, commercial space allotment, hotel, catering service and car parking services.
