CIAL mulling plans for airport-based SEZ at Kochi

Chennai: Cochin International Airport Ltd (Cial), operators of the airport in Kochi, are planning to set up an airport-based special economic zone (SEZ) on 300 acres of land, at an estimated cost of Rs5,000 crore.

"The proposed maintenance, repair and overhaul centre for aircraft, IT/ITeS park and other knowledge processing based projects will be coming under this airport-based SEZ," S Bharat, managing director of Cial said.

Cial is also looking at starting an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility and recently appointed Mumbai-based Aerobiz International as its aviation consultant in this regard. It is also setting up an aviation-training institute that will train engineers, pilots and other professionals required for the aviation industry.

Cial is also planning to develop an aerotropolis, or an airport city, which will have luxury hotels, golf course, convention centre, logistics centres, amusement parks and cultural villages. The aerotropolis, which will also cater to medical tourism, shall be part of the proposed SEZ.