The Ministry of Civil Aviation has given preliminary approval to the Bekal airstrip project in Periya, Kerala, under its UDAN scheme.
The state government sent feasibility reports of Bekal, Wayanad and Idukki airstrip projects to the ministry in August 2019. The airstrip will come upon 80 acre of land at Kanniyamkundu, seven km from Periya. Of the 80 acre, 28 acre was with the government.
The government will acquire the land for the project and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will develop infrastructure under UDAN. This is the fourth round of approval under UDAN, started in 2016 to improve air connectivity and make air travel affordable.
The state government intends to make the airstrip as feeder post for international airports in the state.