The runway length proposed is 12,000 feet and will be the longest runway in India once the airport is operational. There are also plans to start an aviation school at the airport.

Aranmula which is located in Pattanamthitta district is close to sabarimala and hence a lot of pilgrims may use the airport in future. Aranmula is also surrounded by major tourist attractions - Thekkady, Kumarakom etc.

More details on the project is available at Aranmula Aviation Site.

Editor’s Comment: It would be a good idea to start a lot airports across kerala, especially looking at the state of our roads. At least the rich will find it easier to travel since there are not potholes in the sky!

During the strike, the airport employees harassed air passengers and also distributed rubbish throughout the airport. Anywhere else in India, these goondas would have been arrested. They also collected rubbish and put it front of CISF employees.

In Kerala, unions are normally is not interested in stopping a strike unless it causes a lot of misery to general public. For example, when bank employees strike, they do it for 2 or 3 days combining it with weekend holidays. This way they can put maximum suffering on people who use public sector bank services.

Editor’s Comment: The majority of Trivandrum airport staff (except private airline staff such that of King Fisher Airlines) are arrogant and unhelpful. They behave as if they are doing a big favour to air passengers. So it is surprising that they didn’t beat up air passengers during the strike!

According to their website, Gtech is an interest group that promotes the cause of community of companies in Technopark. In reality, they have put procedures which are against constitution of India. For example, if an employee wants to shift from a company to another one, he needs to get a "no objection certificate" from the first company. This is utilized by Gtech to lock an employee to a company there by severely restricting the freedom and protection offered by the constitution of India.

Editor’s Comment: Government intervention is the last thing that we need in IT sector. But at the same time it is important to keep organizations such as Gtech in check and to protect employee freedom.

The total agricultural loan of Kerala state is over 17,000 crores. Most of these are given out by public sector banks. Only loans taken before March 2007 are eligible under the relief program.

Editor’s comment: Now suddenly all those farmers who worked hard and paid the loan amount looks like an idiot. This relief plan should have been limited to those who really need it. Blanket loan relief will only promote future loan default. Remember it is hard earned money(taxes) that is given free!

The work for the centre started in 1995 and it took over 12 years to complete the project. The total cost of the project so far is around 6 crore rupees. The only other high altitude training centre is in Himachal Pradesh.

Currently the high altitude training centre at Munnar includes hostel facilities, volleyball court and athletic tracks. In the next phase of the project, swimming pool and a gym will be added to the facility.

Editor’s comment: 12 years to build some hostels and volley ball court? I hope the facility is not built on forest land! Otherwise achuthanandan will have to send his bulldozer there.