Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presided over the inauguration of seven “mega projects” at Cochin International Airport (CIAL) on Monday. The event featured the launch of various initiatives aimed at enhancing airport operations and passenger services.
The key projects inaugurated include the Import Cargo Terminal, the DigiYatra software, and Airport Emergency Services. Additionally, the first phase of Terminal 3 expansion, the luxurious ‘0484’ aero lounge, an intrusion detection system, and golf resorts were also part of the event. The Terminal 3 expansion, featuring eight new aero bridges, will increase parking bays to 44. The ‘0484’ aero lounge, once fully operational, will become the country’s largest such facility, spanning 50,000 square feet.
The Import Cargo Terminal is set to enhance cargo handling capacity to two lakh metric tonnes annually.The event also marked the upgrade of the Airport Fire and Rescue Force to Airport Emergency Services, along with the introduction of advanced fire engines and safety measures. The inclusion of the Perimeter Intrusion Detection System along the airport’s 12-km-long compound wall was inaugurated as well.
Cochin International Airport stands out as the first airport in India built through a public-private partnership and is owned by the public company CIAL, established by the Kerala government.
