Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has assured that the acquisition of land for the expansion of the Kannur international airport runway to 4,000 metres will be fast-tracked. The assurance came in response to a petition submitted by CPI(M) leaders on Thursday (October 2, 2025).
The process of acquiring 245.32 acres of land at Keezhalur and Kanad is under way, with the valuation of agricultural trees and buildings nearing completion. An 11(1) notification for the acquisition was issued on October 22, 2018. Officials said a 19(1) notification would be issued once the compensation fund is deposited in the Collector’s account.
The Chief Minister informed the party leaders that the government was arranging the necessary funds to complete the procedure.
The Landowners Action Committee and local MLA K.K. Shailaja had petitioned with the request that the rehabilitation package offered during the 2008 land acquisition be extended to the current phase, despite change in land acquisition laws in 2013.
Mr. Vijayan said the demand would be examined and a decision taken soon, along with steps to prepare the detailed valuation statement.
Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer, CPI(M) district secretary K. K. Ragesh, district committee member N. V. Chandrababu, area secretary M. Ratheesh, local secretary P. K. Chandran, P. C. Vinodhan and K. P. Riju were among those present when the petition was submitted.
Published – October 03, 2025 01:02 pm IST
