Opening the project office for the airport at Mattannur town near here, Chandy said the government was keen to complete the airport development in a time-bound manner to avoid cost escalation.
The airport would not only serve the travel needs of a large number of non-resident Keralites working in the Gulf countries from the northern districts but also help the region to emerge as a commercial hub, especially to tap its huge potential in handloom textile sector.
The airport is being developed as a joint venture project on the lines of the Cochin International Airport Ltd.
The AGM of Kannur International Airport held in the state capital earlier this week had decided to speed up the tender procedures of the project.