Centre clears three major airports for AP

As a major boost to the development of Airports in Andhra Pradesh, which pave the way for overall economic development of the State in terms of contribution to GDP, tax revenues and major employment generation and so on apart from convenience to the Air-travellers, the Govt. of India today accorded clearance in principle for three major airports  Bhogapuram, Vizianagram Dist.,  Dhagadarthi, Nellore Dist. and Orvakal, Kurnool Dist.

Expressing immense satisfaction over this significant development, the Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu specifically thanked the  Prime Minister  Narendra Modi & Ashoka Gajapathi Raju, Union Minister for Civil Aviation (MoCA) for the co-operation & support extended and reiterated that these Airports are boon for the economic development in the respective Districts in particular and overall development of the state in general apart from attracting sizable investments. The Chief Minister, has directed  Ajay Jain, Prl. Secy (Energy I&I, CRDA), (who has informed this key development over phone from Delhi),  to expedite the construction and other related works of these Airports on top priority.

Disclosing these details, Prl. Secretary (Energy, I&I, CRDA), who has made Power Point Presentation in a High Level meeting today at New Delhi attended by seven key Depts., like Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Ministry of Home affairs, Ministry of Economic affairs etc has expressed in detail the need for providing clearance to these airports, specifying that the air-connections created between cities and markets represent an important infrastructure asset that generates benefits through enabling foreign direct investment, business clusters and other spill-over impacts on the productive capacity of state economy. Impressed with the presentation of Prl. Secy, the GoI has immediately agreed in principle for construction of these Airports.  Rajiv Nayan Choubey, Secretary/Ministry of Civil Aviation appreciated the efforts of the AP State Govt. and continuous persuasion of  Chief Minister in getting approval of these Airports, said Sri. Ajay Jain.

The Bhogapuram International Airport, a greenfield airport project to be  built near Bhogapuram, 40 kilometers north-east of Visakhapatnam, India. The project will come up on 5,311 acres in and around Bhogapuram. The airport will be built by the Bhogapuram International Airport Company Limited (BIACL), a Special purpose vehicle (SPV) owned by the government. The project will be taken up in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode with the state holding stake in the form of land holdings. Out of 2800 acres land acquisition, consent or permission is received for 2000 acres. The Nellore Airport and Orvakal Airport will be developed under a low cost airport model by the BIACL along with Bhogapuram Airport. Tenders were floated for selection of developers for these 3 airports, which are under finalization said Ajay Jain. (NSS)