The Economic Impact of Sabarimala Greenfield Airport on Pathanamthitta and Beyond

Sabarimala Greenfield Airport, which is a plan to be established near Erumeli in Pathanamthitta district, is going to be an amazing infrastructure project in Kerala.

Indeed, the airport will be built to accommodate the large number of pilgrims who will visit the Sabarimala Temple.

As a result, this airport will not only be able to resolve traffic jam problems but also be an important source of economic growth in the region. With the project of Rs. 7,047 crores, it is going to be the fifth international airport of Kerala making the region more accessible and bringing in the prosperity.

Moreover, the flying hub is also anticipated to become a source of economic boom in the districts neighboring the region, thereby creating a wide range of economic opportunities for the local area, apart from the devotees' service.


Employment Generation and Skill Development

The building period of Sabarimala Greenfield Airport is estimated to create a total of 8,000 jobs, which will be a substantial injection into the local job market.

These opportunities will cover a wide range of industries, such as building, transportation, and services, giving a variety of labor jobs to skilled and unskilled workers. Moreover, the airport's activities will bring about steady jobs in the fields of flight services, trading, and repairs, thus making a positive economic cycle in the region.


Economic Growth and Regional Development

One of the expected benefits of setting up an airport is the initiation of a positive economic spiral not only in Pathanamthitta but also in the associated districts.

The airport will attract visitors from cities, pilgrimage centers, and even the business world who will make use of the local transport, hotels, and shopping areas. Visitors are the means of transportation, the rental of rooms and the use of restaurants are just some of the services that will be stimulated through the influx of guests, resulting in a higher turnover of companies and their growth.


Real Estate and Infrastructure Advancements

The upcoming Sabarimala Greenfield Airport project is a big deal, probably the local real estate market will be influenced by it in a positive way. That is expected to the area because of better transportation and underlying infrastructure investing in living and businesses.

As a result, this could lead to the increase of real estate prices and the proliferation of new housing projects, which, in turn, attract urbanization and improve the quality of life.

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Environmental and Social Considerations

Although the airport brings a lot of advantages to the economy, there are still some environmental and social issues that should be taken into account. It includes the acquisition of land from the Cheruvally Estate and some adjacent villages for the project, and these inhabitants and the nature may be affected.

To guarantee that the growth is being done in a way that is both sustainable and socially responsible, the Kerala government has embarked on a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) mission to identify, prevent and alleviate possible negative impacts.


Enhancing Pilgrimage Experience

One of the main goals that the Sabarimala Greenfield Airport wants to achieve is to make the temple trip more accessible and comfortable for the pilgrims who intend to visit the Holy Temple Sabarimala.

At present, the trip to the temple is a long and tiresome one mostly done by car through which the result is traffic jams of the crowded routes during the peak seasons of the pilgrimage. The new airport will offer a direct flight connection that will save time and thus, will make the pilgrimage smoother for the devotees.


Future Prospects

After the construction, the Greenfield Airport Sabarimala will likely become the source of development of the entire central Kerala region. The influence of the airport will not be limited to the tourism and pilgrimage sector alone but other areas such as commercial, education, and health will also show positive signs of growth.

As the airport will be interconnected with the region's transportation network, Pathanamthitta will be the place where we will see the maximum economic activity of the state of Kerala and thus a large amount of capital will come here and there will be ample scope for eco-friendly growth.


Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sabarimala Greenfield Airport stands as a significant milestone in Kerala's development trajectory.

The Sabarimala Greenfield Airport goes beyond connecting pilgrims to a temple, it connects a region to growth, opportunities, and global access. From tourism and jobs to trade and infrastructure, the economic ripple effect will be felt beyond only Pathanamthitta.


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