Express News Service By

VIJAYAWADA: The Interim terminal building under construction at Vijayawada Airport will be completed by August, before the commencement of Krishna Pushkarams, said principal secretary (investment and infrastructure) Ajay Jain.

Spread over 13,000 square meters, the interim terminal building was initially scheduled to be completed by October. But, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked the officials to complete it by August. Immigration and customs desk will be setup at the airport as soon as the interim terminal building becomes operational.

The airport witnessed significant growth in the passenger traffic in recent months. As against the passenger traffic of 48 per cent in Tirupati and 44 per cent in Rajamandravaram, the traffic at Vijayawada stood at 64 per cent in the 2015-16. He said that International operations will commence at Tirupati Airport by the end of June. Customs desk and immigration will be set up at the newly developed airport. Initial international flights will fly to US and to the Middle east countries (via New Delhi), he explained

The existing airport at Rajamahendravaram is being expanded and an extent of 857 acres has been acquired for the airport runway expansion works being taken up at a cost of Rs 350 crore. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has come forward to spend Rs 120 crore for the expansion works, he said.

According to him, a greenfield airport will be constructed at Bhogapuram. About 2,000 acres have been identified by the government. “We have consent for 350 acres of land from farmers till date and the remaining land will be acquired under the land-pooling scheme proposed by the State government,” he said.

The Bhogapuram Airport Limited is securing Rs 1,500 crore from the HUDCO Board to compensate the farmers giving up their lands for the airport construction. Bidding process will start in June under the PPP mode, he said. “Soon after the completion of Greenfield airport at Bhogapuram, the operations at Visakhapatnam will be stopped and it will be handed over to Indian Navy,” Ajay Jain said.

Logistics parks will be developed by Container Corporation of India ( CONCOR ) in Visakhapatnam (98 acre), Krishnapatnam (142 acre) and Kakinada (89 acre). The logistic parks will be in operational by 2018. Besides, a Logistic University will come up in an area of 90 acres at Kakinada and an Energy University is being established in 150 acres of land at Anantapur.

Soaring Dreams

Vijayawada airport witnesses significant increase in passenger traffic. As against the passenger traffic of 48 per cent in Tirupati and 44 per cent in Rajamandravaram, the traffic at Vijayawada stood at 64 per cent in the 2015-16.

Tirupati to have international flight operations by June-end. Rajamahendravaram to be expanded at a cost of Rs 120 crore. Bhogapura, Bhavanapadu airport works pick pace.

Logistic University and Energy University to come up next year.

Logistics parks to be developed by Container Corporation of India in Visakhapatnam (98 acre), Krishnapatnam (142 acre) and Kakinada (89 acre).