T’PURAM: Air connectivity to Kerala is expected to go up in the next two years as top executives of Indian and international airlines recently had a brainstorming session on exploring the untapped potential of the five southernmost districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The airline industry experts decided to come together for a discussion to explore new opportunities considering the southern districts’ potential in emerging as economic powerhouse.
The session was organised by Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) here under the title ‘Trivandrum Connectivity Summit’. Executives of around 30-plus airliners that include Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara, Jet Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Air Arabia, Flydubai, Air Asia, Qatar Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines, Maldivian Airlines, Scoot and Akasa Air attended the session which was co-hosted by Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Trivandrum Agenda Task Force (TATF) and ‘Awake Trivandrum’.
“The southern tip of India is brisk with economic activity, and is already on the cusp of a fast-paced transformation driven by ongoing big-ticket infrastructure projects. Focus on the summit will be the State Capital Region (SCR) – Thiruvananthapuram, along with Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts, southern Tamil Nadu comprising Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli, which together hold immense potential cutting across domains,” Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor was quoted as saying ahead of the session.
“Increased connectivity is inevitable to realise the true potential that the 78-km-long Outer Area Growth Corridor (OAGC), next phase development of Technopark, creation of a knowledge economy through Life Sciences Park and International Virology Institute, opening of large commercial outlets like those of Lulu Mall and Taurus, and Vizhinjam International Motherport, among others,” said TCCI president S N Raghuchandran Nair.
He said “the proposed IT Park at Kanyakumari, ISRO’s new satellite launch pad at Tirunelveli, Trivandrum-Tirunelveli Industrial Corridor, etc., will boost traffic through the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Kerala tourism sector, which is in a revival mode post COVID-19, will add to the numbers.”.
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