Air traffic at new Kannur Airport controlled by ex-team of Mangaluru Airport

coastaldigest.com news network

December 10, 2018

Mangaluru/Kannur, Dec 10: Amidst reports that the Kannur International Airport will pose a stiff competition to Mangalore International Airport, several former officials of the coastal Karnataka’s only airport have assumed office at the newly launched airport of Kerala.

When the first flight took off at Kannur Airport yesterday, the air traffic was controlled by three Kannur natives, including a woman. Interestingly, two among them had worked in Mangaluru in the past.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) air traffic control deputy GM G Pradeep Kumar, assistant GM Sreelesh Sreedharan, and junior executive P V Hridya are excited about their responsibility.

''It’s a proud and emotional moment,'' said Mr. Pradeep Kumar, who also heads the overall operations of air traffic services at the airport. A native of Pervaoor near Iritty, Mr Pradeep Kumar joined AAI in 1988 and has served at Mumbai, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Coimbatore airports.

Mr. Pradeep has been stationed in Kannur for the last two years after AAI entrusted him with the responsibility of setting up air traffic-related facilities.

According to Mr. Pradeep, he has an emotional bond with Kannur airport as he was unofficially involved in the feasibility study carried out by the AAI in the late 1990s for the airport. Mr. Pradeep is experienced in airside operations and terminal management also.

GM Sreelesh Sreedharan belongs to Patiam. He too was previously serving at Mangalore airport. "I am lucky to be part of air traffic control of the airport in my home town,'' said Mr. Sreelesh. Besides Mangalore, he has served at Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram ATCs. He was also an instructor at Mangalore. In Kannur he is an instructor - cum- controller.

P V Hridya from Dharmasala, Kannur, joined AAI in 2016 and has served at Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru airports.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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