JEDDAH: The proposed Kannur International Airport would start functioning within three years, according to C.M. Ebrahim, a former Indian civil aviation minister, who is currently visiting the Kingdom.
“The airport will end the travel woes of the people of northern Kerala and southwestern Karnataka, particularly the workers in the Gulf region and pilgrims to the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah,” Ebrahim said, while speaking at a function to felicitate the Haj delegation of the Indian government at the Golden Palace Hall in Jeddah on Sunday.
It may be noted that it was while Ebrahim headed the Civil Aviation Ministry at the federal government that the feasibility study for the airport was conducted. Ebrahim also thanked E.K. Nayanar and K. Karunakaran, both former Kerala chief ministers and the Secretary General of the Kerala branch of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Pinarayi Vijayan for supporting the airport project.
“It is my long-cherished dream to see direct flights operating from Kannur to Makkah and Madinah,” the ex-minister said.
Among others Syed Ahmad Khan, director general of Pondicherry police, Abdul Hannan, secretary of the Youth Congress, Moulana Muheebullah Nadvi, imam of the Parliament Juma Masjid in New Delhi, Sayyid Zaman, member of Parliament, Omer Ali Khan, general secretary of the Muslim Youth Conference attended the function.
