Calicut airport runway work may delay aircraft operations

Work on the expansion of the Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) at Calicut International Airport at Karippur is progressing at snail’s pace and only 22 per cent construction has been completed, raising concerns about resumption of wide-body aircraft operations suspended after 2020 Air India plane crash.

- AM Abdussalam

Progress on the project has been hindered, primarily due to the monsoon season, which has brought the groundwork and sand-filling operations to a halt. At a recent review meeting convened by Members of Parliament, the contracting company, Gawar Construction Limited, said that it expects to complete the work by 31 March 2026. However, as per the terms of the contract, the RESA construction should have been completed by 31 December 2025, a deadline that now appears unattainable under the current conditions. The slow pace of work by the contractor came under sharp criticism during the meeting.

A key point raised was the company’s failure to complete the necessary formalities and deliver the required soil to the site on time.