Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Friday that Andhra Pradesh would have seven new airports. The projects are currently in the planning stage. Union civil aviation minister Rammohan Naidu and senior officials of the Airports Authority of India attended a review meeting on the aviation network in the state at the chief minister’s residence. It focussed attention on the construction and expansion of airports, along with the plans for new airports.
The chief minister noted that AP has a total of seven civil aviation facilities. The AAI manages the Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Kadapa, Rajahmundry and Gannavaram airports. The Kurnool airport is managed by the state government while the one in Puttaparthi is a private airstrip. In addition to these, work is on for the Bhogapuram International Airport. The CM said, “In view of the increasing needs, the state government has decided to launch 7 more airports. While some of these projects were taken up during the previous Telugu Desam government's tenure, these were kept in cold storage for the past five years.”
“The present government has resolved to get them on track again,” he said. Naidu said the new airports will be in Kuppam, Dagadarthy, Srikakulam, Tadepalligudem, Nagarjuna Sagar, Tuni-Annavaram and Ongole. A feasibility report has been prepared for Kuppam Airport. The construction of this airport will be done in two phases. A total of 1,250 acres have already been identified, including 683 acres in the first phase and 567 acres in the second phase, he said.
Officials explained that since IAF, HAL and Bangalore International Airports are located nearby, the air space issue also arises. NOC has to be obtained from the relevant authorities. For the Srikakulam airport, the feasibility survey has been completed. It will be built on 1,383 acres in two phases. Land acquisition has started. The work will be undertaken on 680 acres in Phase 1 and 536 acres in Phase 2.
The construction of Dagadarthi Airport was decided during the previous Telugu Desam government. The plan was to build it on 1379 acres. The TD government has completed the acquisition of 635 acres. Another 745 acres must be acquired. This airport has all the permissions. A BPCL refinery is coming up in this area. The area is developing industrially. This would be a good airport for cargo and industry. The CM urged the officials to also consider the proposal for an airstrip in Sri City SEZ. Officials said 657 acres were identified for Ongole Airport. A feasibility study would follow. An airport will be set up on 1670 acres at Nagarjuna Sagar in Palnadu district. Some 500 acres has to be acquired. Forest clearance is required. The plan for Tadepalligudem is to start the airport on 1123 acres. However, the Rajahmundry and Gannavaram airports are not far from this place. Due to this, the feasibility of an airport is being examined. Another proposal is to float the airport on 757 acres between Tuni and Annavaram with the railway lines, highway and water body in close proximity. The chief minister said new industries are coming up in the Anakapalle district. A steel plant and new cities are coming up in Nakkapalle. Hence, a need for an airport in that area. Naidu said this airport should be located close to Anakapalle, Kakinada and Visakhapatnam. He also said there is a possibility of an airport in the Tadipatri area and this should also be examined. Later, officials gave a presentation on the expansion works of Gannavaram airport. They presented to the CM the new designs for the terminal works. The airport designs have been prepared with the theme of Kuchipudi dance and Amaravati stupas. The CM proposed that these works be completed in 6 months and flight services made available by June. Officials also explained the progress of the Bhogapuram airport works. Along with airports, an aviation university and training centre will also come up in the state. The parking requirements of private flights at airports will increase in the comingdays CM Naidu said.
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