Kondotty: The expansion of the Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) at Karipur Airport has seen only 22per cent completion, raising concerns about the project's timely delivery.

Progress on the project has stalled, primarily due to the monsoon season, which has brought the groundwork and sand-filling operations to a halt. As a result, further delays are now inevitable.

At a recent review meeting convened by Members of Parliament, the contract company, Gawar Construction Limited, informed attendees that it expects to complete the work by 31 March 2025. However, as per the terms of the contract, the RESA construction should have been completed by 31 December 2024, a deadline that now appears unattainable under the current conditions.

The slow pace of work by the contractor came under sharp criticism during the meeting. A key point raised was the company’s failure to complete the necessary formalities and deliver the required soil to the site on time.

Construction of the RESA began in late December 2023, with earthworks initiated at both ends of the runway. The project had already suffered an 11-month delay due to technical complications. The runway is now being extended from 150 metres to 240 metres, and an estimated 35 lakh cubic metres of soil is required for the work.

Although a nearby site was identified for sourcing the soil, delays in securing mining permits significantly hampered progress. Additionally, heavy rainfall in recent weeks forced a complete halt to soil-lifting operations, which are now expected to resume only by August or September.

The completion of the RESA is critical for the resumption of large aircraft operations at Karipur. These services were suspended following the 2020 plane crash, and their reinstatement hinges on meeting safety norms set by aviation authorities.

Those present at the review meeting included E T Mohammed Basheer MP, M K Raghavan MP, Airport Director Muneer Madampat, representatives of Gawar Construction Limited, the Airports Authority of India, the District Administration, and the Geology Department.