: Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has demanded urgent steps to solve the difficulties likely to be experienced by passengers when the Karipur international airport is shut down for re-carpeting.
In a statement here on Thursday, Mr. Balakrishnan pointed out that the airport would remain closed for at least 15 months beginning May 1.
The shutdown would be from 12 noon to 8 p.m. Once the work begins, wide-bodied aircraft of most airlines would not be able to land at the airport. Most airlines operating in the Gulf sector use wide-bodied aircraft.
The difficulties of the passengers can be mitigated only if the airlines operate services using smaller aircraft.
Haj pilgrims
Besides the difficulties that the thousands working in various Gulf countries would have to endure, the flight disruption would cause untold misery to Haj pilgrims as the repair period is also the time of Haj pilgrimage.
The government should take urgent measures to ensure that there is no flight disruption on account of the re-carpeting of the runway at the airport, Mr. Balakrishnan said.
The airport will be closed for at least 15 months from May 1 for re-carpeting.
