Thiruvananthapuram:
The Kerala government on Thursday gave the go-ahead to the country's first private international greenfield airport project, which is being developed by KGS Aranmula International Airport Ltd at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district of the state.
"The proposed airport project had earlier got all the necessary clearance from the central government and now the state government has also given its nod," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Kerala government will get 10 per cent equity in the project and appoint a member in the board of directors of the company managing it, the chief minister said after a cabinet meeting.
"The government will get the 10 per cent equity for free and the airport developer will also pay the market value for the government land being developed," Chandy said.
The proposed airport is coming up about 110 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram. The famed Sabarimala temple is located 30 kilometres from the project site.
The Rs 2000-crore airport is to come up in an area of 500 acres and is expected to be ready in two years' time.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) accorded clearance to the project in September last year.