Vayalar Ravi in pilot’s seat

Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
20 Jan 2011

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Kerala Government, which has been in an embarrassing situation for delaying the commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, is now caught up in a further embarrassing position as Vayalar Ravi has clinched the Civil Aviation portfolio at the Centre.
The V S Achuthanandan Government in the State had indeed snubbed the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi recently by objecting to the inauguration of the new terminal building by him. With Vayalar Ravi becoming the Civil Aviation Minister, the LDF Government will now have to seek his support not only for the commissioning of the new terminal, but also for other civil aviation-related needs of the State.
The appointment of Vayalar Ravi also comes close on the heels of the Centre deciding to shift the headquarters of Air India Express to the State.
Vayalar Ravi was scheduled to inaugurate the new terminal building on July 14, 2010. But the State Government had communicated its strong objection to the plan and insisted that the new terminal should be inaugurated by none less than the Prime Minister himself. Since then, the inauguration or even an informal commissioning of the new terminal was being delayed indefinitely and the terminal constructed at a cost of Rs 300 crore had been remaining unutilised.
Sources said that the State Government wanted to highlight the new terminal project as one of its major achievements and wanted to make it a major event. Hence, the Government was waiting indefinitely for the convenience of the Prime Minister. Though there have been reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may commission the new terminal by next month, in the changed scenario, the blessings of Vayalar Ravi are inevitable.