Around 10 million passengers flew in and out of Kochi last fiscal year but many might not know that more than three decades ago Kochi was at the risk of the falling off the aviation map if not for the audacious attempt by a young IAS officer – V J Kurian – to set up a new airport.
Q: When Cial started out there were many challenges and obstacles. Now the same airport has received recognition from the UN.
A: We started with just Rs 20,000 in our hand but went on to build this Rs 300 crore project. In 1993, when I mooted the idea nobody believed it would become a reality. Not even in my wildest thoughts did I imagine that we would handle 1 crore passengers in just around 25 years of operation and now the UN recognition has followed.
Q: In 1993, what about Kochi indicated that it requires an airport of this magnitude?
A: It was out of necessity. In 1993, at the civilian enclave of the Naval airport, passenger flights could land from 7am to 4pm. And Air India was phasing out the Boeing 737-200, which used to land here. We were facing the danger of falling out of the aviation map. There was a suggestion to extend the runway of the Naval airport but it would cost around Rs 80 crore. The Port Trust was not very keen and the Navy felt the existing runway was sufficient for their needs. Cial was a necessity.
Q: What set in motion Cial’s solar initiative? Was it just a branding exercise?
A: It started as a necessity because of an increase in the electricity tariff. In a state where you have rain for six months, we were not sure if a solar project would be viable. We started with 100 KW and after a couple of months realized that power production was quite good. We decided to expand it 1MW and observe it for over a period of one year. We presented it to the state government and said upgrading the facility to 12 MW would make us energy efficient.
Q: Does the solar initiative help passengers opting to travel via Cial directly?
A: It does because our solar plants have helped us save a lot. We undertook Rs 1,200 crore expansion for our new terminal and we still don’t charge user development fee.
Q: What is your prime focus now?
A: Most of my time is now focused on the Cial’s inland waterways project, which I am sure will be a success and game changer. Parvathy Puthanar in Thiruvananthapuram has not been cleaned for the past 53 years and we already started the process. We have promised the chief minister that by September we would take him via boat from Akkulam to Panathura.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
