Landfilling in progress for extension of the runway end safety area at Karipur.
| Photo Credit: SAKEER HUSSAIN
The construction of an extended Runway End Safety Area (RESA) is currently under way at the Calicut International Airport, Karipur. According to Airport Director Muneer Madampat, 22 % of the work has completed.
Although the project is scheduled to be completed by March next year, the construction company, Gawar Construction Ltd., has sought an extension of three months because of the delay caused by the rain.
The RESA is being extended from 90 meters to 240 meters to enhance safety for the tabletop runway. This extension aims to prevent accidents like the Air India Express flight tragedy on August 7, 2020, which resulted in 21 fatalities and over 100 injuries.
A distant view of the runway end safety area extension work at Karipur.
The aircraft from Dubai overshot the runway and plunged into a depth of more than 40 ft. Experts who investigated the 2020 accident pointed out that a longer RESA could have prevented the tragedy. Since that accident, large flights are not being operated from the airport.
While the soil filling work is on hold due to the monsoon rains, construction of the perimeter wall and other related activities are continuing. Mining activities in the district have been suspended temporarily because of heavy rainfall. The officials said that the project was being carried out in an eco-friendly manner.
Over 3.5 million cubic meters of soil from approved sites identified by the Revenue and Geology Departments is being sourced to build the embankment. Officials said that more sites for soil collection were identified and environmental clearance gained. Once the rains subside, soil extraction would begin from those sites.
A flight lands on the tabletop runway at the Calicut airport.
The RESA is being extended on both ends of the runway by filling and elevating the land adjacent to the runway ends. The construction is progressing in multiple layers with the help of machinery. Initially, 25 centimetres of soil is laid and compacted to 20 centimetres, followed by a soil strength test. After that, the next layer of soil is laid and compacted. The raised areas are being secured with geogrids on the sides, eliminating the need for side walls.
The completion of the extended RESA is expected to revitalise the Calicut airport, enabling the resumption of wide-body flights. To facilitate this, the State government acquired 12.48 acres of land from 98 landowners in Pallikkal and Nediyiruppu villages.
Published – July 27, 2025 11:18 pm IST
