Cochin International Airport Nedumbassery

Cochin International Airport Nedumbassery

Cochin International Airport: Kerala takes off to new heights

Location: Nedumbassery, about 20 km from Kochi, central Kerala.

Now there's another, wider gateway to God's Own Country. Now jumbo jets will touch down in Kerala from all parts of the world... A new chapter in India's aviation history began with the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) at Nedumbassery. The fastest project of its kind and the only airport in the country to be built by a State Government promoted company with public participation, the CIAL was inaugurated on May 25 by Sri.K.R. Narayanan, President of India and will be operational in a couple of weeks.

Standing tall in the Nedumbassery village with its tile factories and endless paddy fields fringed with coconut palm groves, the airport stands for its traditional style of architecture. The domestic as well as the international terminals (100,000 sq ft and 140,000 sq ft respectively) reflect an old world charm.

The 2,300 million rupees project completed within six years is spread out over 1,300 acres and has the second largest runway in India (3400 m) and can accommodate eight aircrafts including four wide bodied crafts, at a time. With modern facilities like hydrant fuelling systems, four German - Austrian make fire engines capable of handling any emergency, parking space for 1100 cars apart from airport vehicles and taxis, the 50 ft high tower etc CIAL is on a par with the world's best airports. And has provisions for further improvements and modernisation. A prayer hall and a large garden add more charm to the CIAL.

Near Nedumbassery is Kalady, the birth place of Adi Sankaracharya the great Indian philosopher, and an important pilgrim and learning centre.