Competing airport pitches in Kerala revive battle over Sabarimala project

The prolonged delay in implementing the proposed Sabarimala Greenfield Airport has triggered growing resentment in Erumely, with residents of the panchayat rallying behind a campaign to get the long-stalled project back on track.

Seeking to ramp up pressure on the State government, an action council has been formed under the aegis of the Erumely grama panchayat. The move comes amid concerns that the project has drifted into uncertainty following the change in government and renewed demands from some quarters to shift the proposed airport to Pathanamthitta district.

Although the State had identified 2,263 acres at Cheruvally Estate in Erumely for the airport, it suffered a major setback in January 2026 when the Pala Sub Court dismissed the government’s claim over the estate. Barely a month earlier, a Single Bench of the Kerala High Court had quashed a government notification to acquire 2,570 acres from Cheruvally Estate and adjoining areas.