Malappuram: Construction of the Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at Kozhikode International Airport in Karipur, Malappuram has progressed at a slow pace, with just 29 per cent of the work completed over the past year.

The project aims to extend the RESA at both ends of the runway from 150 metres to 240 metres, a crucial safety requirement for resuming operations of large aircraft at the airport.

The contract for the RESA expansion was awarded to Rajasthan-based Gavak Construction Limited on December 18, 2023, with a stipulated construction period of 19 months. Groundwork for raising the land began in late December last year. However, the project faced an initial delay of nearly 11 months due to technical issues and procedural hurdles.

Officials estimate that around 35 lakh cubic metres of soil are required to raise the RESA area to runway level. Although suitable soil sources were identified near the airport, delays in obtaining mining permits significantly slowed progress from the outset. These logistical constraints have continued to affect the pace of construction.

Under the original agreement, the work was scheduled to be completed by December 31. Given the delays, the contractor sought an extension, which was granted until March 26 next year. The contract period had already factored in an additional three months to account for the monsoon season, during which construction activity is largely halted.

Completion of the RESA project is considered critical for the return of wide-body and large aircraft services to Karipur. Operations of larger aircraft were suspended following the 2020 air crash at the airport, after which safety upgrades became mandatory. Despite growing interest from major foreign airlines to operate additional services from Karipur, the slow progress of the RESA construction continues to delay expansion plans.

Aviation stakeholders have expressed concern over the pace of the work, noting that timely completion of the runway safety upgrade is essential for enhancing passenger connectivity and restoring Karipur’s international operational capacity.