Thiruvananthapuram International Airport’s long-awaited expansion under Project Anantha remains in limbo as the Centre has yet to approve the reconstitution of the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). The airport upgrade, expected to start in April 2025, has stalled due to the expiry of the previous SEIAA committee and the delay in appointing a new one, leaving essential environmental clearances pending and halting progress on Kerala’s most ambitious aviation infrastructure development.
The Project Anantha redevelopment aims to transform the existing airport into a major international gateway with an annual capacity of 27 million passengers and 0.42 million tonnes of cargo. Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, the operator, had submitted detailed proposals for the expansion of Terminals 1 and 2, which include a five-star hotel, underground parking, upgraded passenger facilities, and commercial zones. The revised master plan had been under review when the SEIAA committee’s term ended on March 5. Despite the state government submitting a list of new SEIAA members over two months ago, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has yet to take action. This bureaucratic bottleneck has effectively frozen the environmental approval process. Without a functioning SEIAA committee, all projects requiring state-level environmental clearance—including the airport expansion—remain stalled.
According to Aviation Secretary, the state government has completed its responsibilities by forwarding the list of nominees. “Once the Centre approves the members, the new SEIAA committee will be formed, and the airport project will be taken up as a priority,” he told TOI. Until then, construction activity cannot begin. Project Anantha’s scope is significant in both scale and complexity. The proposed vertical expansion of the terminal infrastructure includes separate levels for domestic and international passenger processing. While the demolition of the existing domestic terminal has been deferred to a future control period after 2027, preparatory work was supposed to begin this year. However, with environmental approvals pending, no physical activity has taken place on the ground.
Sources involved in the project say the delay is already beginning to impact timelines. “The public hearing required for environmental clearance is also pending. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board has not yet scheduled it, and we haven’t received any communication on that front either,” a source said. This public consultation process is mandatory before the SEIAA can grant a clearance. Environmental approvals are crucial because the project involves significant structural changes and land-use adjustments in the airport’s vicinity. The expansion also includes ecological impact assessments tied to construction, passenger traffic, and increased airside operations. Without these assessments and clearances, no central funding or permits can be disbursed.
Meanwhile, the airport continues to face a surge in traffic. Both domestic and international passenger numbers have risen sharply post-pandemic, and existing infrastructure is struggling to cope. Terminals are operating near full capacity, baggage handling systems are under strain, and congestion is increasingly common, especially during peak hours. “Upgrades can’t be delayed much longer,” a senior aviation official warned. “The current layout was designed for far fewer passengers. With the rise in traffic, we’re dealing with outdated systems and space constraints daily.”
Adani Airport Holdings, for its part, has reportedly expressed concern over the delay but remains committed to the project. The company has already factored in updated environmental recommendations, such as sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and improved drainage infrastructure, into its revised master plan. These were submitted just before the previous SEIAA committee expired. The situation also raises broader concerns over how delays in committee formation at the central level can paralyze major infrastructure projects. Kerala has witnessed similar slowdowns in the past, with industrial and construction projects stuck in limbo awaiting SEIAA clearance. In the case of the airport, the lack of a functioning green panel directly affects one of the state’s most strategic economic assets.
Industry observers say this impasse underscores the need for better coordination between state and central authorities. “Environmental oversight is essential, but the process also has to be time-bound,” said an infrastructure policy analyst. “A four-month delay in reconstituting SEIAA is not just a procedural lapse—it’s a policy roadblock with economic consequences.” For Thiruvananthapuram, the stakes are high. The city has been positioning itself as a logistics and tourism hub, and a modernised airport is key to that vision. The Project Anantha redevelopment was expected to not only enhance passenger comfort but also create hundreds of jobs, boost tourism revenue, and improve Kerala’s overall aviation connectivity.
Until the SEIAA issue is resolved, however, all of that remains aspirational. Construction crews remain on standby, approvals are in cold storage, and the state’s infrastructure roadmap is once again at the mercy of administrative inertia.
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Thiruvananthapuram Airport Expansion Delayed as Centre Stalls Green Panel Appointment
