After prolonged uncertainty, the groundwork for the Sabarimala Airport is finally taking shape. The much-awaited survey is scheduled to begin on Monday, with the arrival of the survey team at the site.

The project had faced delays after the owners of Cheruvally Estate, Ayana Charitable Trust, moved the High Court, stalling progress. With legal hurdles now cleared, the path is open for the initial stages of development.

The trust raised allegations based on the Social Impact Assessment, which was a report based on 11(1) notification, which was a forerunner stage to the land acquisition procedure. The trust strongly believes that the second study submitted was a mere copy of the Social Impact Assessment that was canceled previously. Questions are also raised regarding the basis of selecting the Cheruvally Estate for the proposed airport.

A committee headed by a senior IAS Officer had surveyed various plots before choosing the Cheruvally Estate as an ideal place. But the petitioners claim that they didn't receive any information regarding this.

As per the notification, the deadline to file any objection under the Revenue Act is till June 25. The trust confirmed that they have filed their objection to the District Collector, and in the meantime, they also approached the High Court. As the court postponed the hearing to July 9, the court also accepted the trust's request that the collector should not hear their statements beforehand.

As per the notification, the information on landowners, survey, and marking the boundaries should be carried out before acquiring the land. The Revenue Department is planning to speed up the whole process.