VIJAYAWADA: The state government is reportedly having second thoughts on converting the existing Gannavaram airport into an international airport.
According to sources, the government is not keen on persuading the Union civil aviation ministry to grant additional funds to upgrade the airport as chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is toying with the idea of developing an altogether new one under public-private partnership (PPP). However, sources said the government intends to consider the airport issue only after sorting out the thorny land pooling issue for the new capital city.
Meanwhile, the Gannavaram airport will be developed to meet the increased traffic for a few more years. Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju confirmed on Monday that land acquisition had become an issue for the expansion of the airport. He also said the ministry has not received any proposal from the state government for taking up a new international airport despite the Centre's willingness to fund such a project. After struggling for over a decade, the district administration issued notifications for acquiring about 490 acres for the expansion.Sources said the district administration is planning to hand over the land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) by the end of December or middle of January .This would enable the AAI to expand the runway to 10,500 ft from the existing 7,500 ft. "We are ready to begin the works as and when the land is handed over to us," airport director M Rajakishore told TOI. He explained that they have decided to revise the development plans prepared before the bifurcation of the state and announcement of capital at Vijayawada.
The Centre had granted Rs 400 crore for constructing a new terminal building, VIP lounge, parking lots and other facilities long back.However, the work could not be taken up due to refusal of farmers to part with their land. "We have requested our planning wing to revise the previous development plans in sync with the capital city needs," Rajakishore said. He, however, said that the exact outlay of the new plan would be known only after preparation of the detailed project report.Since any spurt in air traffic is unlikely, the Gannavaram airport can handle the capital city rush for at least a decade, he said.
Meanwhile, political circles are abuzz with the talk that the new international airport might come up near Tadikonda, close to the capital city, to serve its needs.
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