Cochin International Airport (CIAL) to Become India’s First Airport to Operate Hydrogen-Powered Buses

Cochin International Airport Ltd. is set to become the first airport in the country to operate hydrogen-powered buses for passenger transportation, following the exchange of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Kerala Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster Foundation and CIAL.

Project Overview
- Milestone: CIAL will be the first airport in India to introduce hydrogen-powered buses for passenger transport.
- Partnership: A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the Kerala Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster Foundation (K-HVIC) and CIAL.
- Scope: Procurement and operation of three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Funding & Implementation
- Financial Support: K-HVIC will fund procurement, capped at ₹2.90 crore per bus, with a total project outlay of ₹8.7 crore.
- Timeline: Procurement is expected to be completed within 12 months.
- Ownership & Operations: Buses will be owned by CIAL, which will handle operational and statutory expenses, including route planning.

Sustainability & Infrastructure
- Fuel Supply: Supported by the upcoming green hydrogen plant jointly developed by CIAL and BPCL.
- Approvals: Statutory clearances for hydrogen supply infrastructure are already in place.
- Impact: The initiative aims to reduce emissions from airport transport while enhancing passenger convenience.

Key Figures Present
- Shri K. Krishnankutty (Minister for Electricity, Kerala)
- Adv. P. Rajeev (Minister for Industries, Coir and Law, Kerala; Director of CIAL)
- S. Suhas IAS (Managing Director, CIAL)
- Harshil R. Meena IAS (Chairman & MD, Kerala HVIC Foundation)
- Dr. Ranjith Krishna Pai (Senior Director, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India)

This move builds on CIAL’s reputation as a pioneer in sustainable aviation infrastructure, already known as the world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy.