Kannur: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the UDF for the delay that occurred in completing the construction of the Kannur International Airport. He also said there was no need for such a long time to realise the concept of the airport which began in 1996.
No works related to the Kannur airport was performed in the five years between 2001 to 2006. The reason behind that inactivity is still unknown. Later, the works of the airport restarted when V. S. Achuthanandan-led government came to power. The activities including land acquisition progressed rapidly during that period.
The chief minister also said that he would not like to assess the progress of the works done between 2011 and 2016. Unlike in 2001- 2006, the works progressed at a snail's pace in 2011-2016. Only a few additional works were completed.
However, the airport was not completed. But they conducted an inaugural ceremony to create an impression that all construction was complete. We have no idea of what they inaugurated then, Pinarayi said.
They gathered people declaring that they are inaugurating the airport using the air force aircraft which could land at any terrain during emergencies. The same airport is now inaugurated in a fully operational state, two and a half years after the government of 2016 came to power, Pinarayi Vijayan alleged.
