Long-pending airstrip project in Wayanad yet to take off

Wayanad district’s long-pending dream of an airstrip has yet to take flight despite renewed efforts by the State government following the landslides in 2024. The inability to identify a suitable stretch of land, at least 1,800 metres in length, in the hilly district remains one of the major hurdles for the authorities.

The demand for a feeder airport in Wayanad started more than a decade ago as it is expected to alleviate travel woes and boost development and tourism in the district. The Malabar Chamber of Commerce had mooted the idea following which representatives of the State and Central governments conducted studies in 2019. “We had pointed out several locations, but they were all found unsuitable for the purpose,” said C.E. Chakkunni, president, Malabar Development Council.

A team led by Biju Prabhakar, then Transport Secretary, conducted a site inspection at Elstone Estate in Kalpetta in July 2023, a year before the landslides struck Chooralmala and Mundakkai. However, the estate was found unsuitable for an airstrip due to the surrounding hills.

Later, in August 2024, the department decided to conduct a feasibility study for the airstrip and entrusted the Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K-Rail) with carrying out the tender procedures. However, there has been no further progress in this regard.

Though there is enough uninhabited land in the district, finding a space where the hills will not affect air traffic is the real challenge before the authorities. Since a large segment of the population in Wayanad is agrarian, the paddy fields have been excluded from the project, so have the reserve forests and wildlife sanctuaries in the district.

Another major impediment to the project is Wayanad’s proximity to the international airports in Mattannur and Karipur. As per the rules of the DGCA, the airstrip must be a certain distance away from the nearest airport. Hence, locating the airstrip anywhere near Mananthavady has been dropped as it would be too close to Kannur International Airport at Mattannur.

Despite the setbacks, the State government had sanctioned ₹1.17 crores for the study and another ₹4.51 crores to prepare a detailed project report (DPR)in the State Budgets of 2023 and 2024, respectively. Another ₹1.50 crore was sanctioned in the 2025–26 Budget to prepare DPRs for airstrips in Idukki and Kasaragod districts, besides Wayanad. Several strips of land, including the premises of the Karaapuzha Reservoir, are still under consideration for the project.

Yet, there have been no clear answers from the authorities concerned regarding the progress of the project. V. Ajith Kumar, managing director of K-Rail, refused to comment on the matter as it falls under the purview of the Department of Transport.

Published - May 31, 2025 08:34 pm IST