Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Modi over 'unilateral' decision to privatise airport

Vijayan wrote in the letter as quoted by media, "The assurance was that as and when the indication of a private player is considered, the Government of India would factor in contributions made by the state government for the development of the Trivandrum Airport."

Seeking the PM's intervention, the Kerala CM said his government will not be able to fully cooperate with the "unilateral decision" taken by the Union Cabinet.

Vijayan wrote in the letter the Modi cabinet overlooked Kerala's repeated requests to hand over the airport's operations and management to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) where the state government is a major stakeholder.

It is to be noted that the Kerala government in 2005 had handed over more than 23 acres of land to the Airport Authority of India for the construction of an international terminal but on a condition that the land value should be reflected on the state's share capital in SPV to oversee the operations in the airport.

Vijayan also said the involvement of a private company in the operation of the airport is completely opposed to the assurance given by the Civil Aviation Ministry in 2003, when Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the leadership of then PM late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power.