Kerala's Sabarimala Airport Stalled as Competing Sites Enter the Fray

The proposed Sabarimala Greenfield Airport in Erumely, Kerala, is facing renewed uncertainty as competing proposals for alternative sites in Pathanamthitta district gain momentum. Residents of Erumely, who have been waiting for the project for years, have formed an action council under the panchayat to push for its implementation at the originally identified Cheruvally Estate.

The project suffered a major setback in January 2026 when the Pala Sub Court dismissed the state government's claim over the 2,263-acre estate. Earlier, a Single Bench of the Kerala High Court had quashed a notification to acquire 2,570 acres from Cheruvally Estate and adjoining areas. The land is currently owned by the Ayana Charitable Trust of the Believers' Eastern Church, and the government's appeal remains pending.

Amid the legal uncertainty, reports have emerged of attempts to revive the long-defunct Aranmula airport project, reportedly backed by some senior Congress leaders. Separately, an action council has pitched Kodumon Estate as an alternative, citing its 1,200 hectares of rubber plantation land, minimal environmental impact, and better connectivity. These competing campaigns have heightened anxiety among the nearly 160 families who received land acquisition notices earlier.

The Erumely grama panchayat recently adopted a resolution urging the state government to proceed with the Cheruvally Estate site, arguing that it has already secured key central clearances, including in-principle approval from the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Defence. Convenor of the action council, T.S. Krishnakumar, said that the government should explore land acquisition by depositing the land value, as the owner has expressed no-objection to the project.

Despite the competing campaigns, United Democratic Front (UDF) sources said the government has not considered relocating the airport from Cheruvally Estate. The action council has warned of direct protests if the government fails to act.