IAF boom in southern airstrips

Beefing up its presence in peninsular India, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is aiming at the maximum use of all available and proposed airports in the southern states.

But it's not just the spanking new airports that are on the IAF radar. The IAF is planning to revive a World War II-era airstrip in Tamil Nadu built by the British.

If the IAF plan gets through, the airstrip at Kayathar, the small village in Tuticorin district where Veerapandya Kattabomman was hanged, will get a fresh lease of life. "The Air Force has plans to revive old airstrips. The revival of the one at Kayathar is being actively considered," a senior IAF officer said.

Kayathar airstrip is currently held by the Tamil Nadu Government, but the IAF has approached it seeking a transfer, it is learnt.

What the IAF plans to do is to renovate the strip, install necessary facilities so as to enable landing and easy take-off of fighter aircraft and helicopters in emergencies.

Some years ago, the Tamil Nadu Government had plans to revive the airstrip, as the nearby Gangaikonda was being transformed into an IT hub.

It's not just the LTTE gaining air power that is putting the IAF on alert in the south. Plans for new seaports and defence installations in the south and the proximity of the east-west international shipping lanes are critical factors pushing the IAF to transfer assets southward.

Tamil Nadu and Kerala feature heavily on the Southern Air Command's (SAC) future plans. The air bases at Tanjore and Sulur are being heavily fitted out to support fighter squadrons.

Sulur will base a full-fledged LCA squadron, while Tanjore will base Medium Lift Helicopters and Transport Aircraft.

The IAF had recently announced its decision to set up Air Force enclaves alongside commercial airports in southern states. It has approached the Kerala Government for land at the Cochin International Airport Ltd, Nedumbassery, and at the proposed airport in Kannur.