Thiruvananthapuram, Tuesday 13 July 2010: Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today told the Assembly that the state government is not against inviting Union Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and other Ministers for the inaugural function of the new terminal of the international airport in the capital city.

The centre has not informed the government about the new date and other things. Meantime, the state government has invited Prime Minister for the inaugural function. Replying to the submission of Varkala Kahar, Achuthanandan said they expect him to come in October.

Earlier report

July 02: Kerala government has written to the civil aviation ministry saying the inauguration of a new terminal of the international airport here should be done by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and not union Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

The terminal was to be inaugurated on July 14 in the presence of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and his Ministers. But the state government opposed the ministry’s announcement that the inauguration will be done by Vayalar Ravi.

The state government, in the letter this week, said the foundation stone of the terminal was laid by Manmohan Singh on November 1, 2006, so it should also be inaugurated by him.

The present terminal caters to about 500 passengers at a time. The new terminal is expected to be able to handle up to 800 passengers. It will be a three-storied fully air-conditioned building with a floor area of 20,000 square metres.