The Hindu Business Line : MoU signed for Vijayawada, Rajahmundry airport boost

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Airports Authority of India, Mr Inderjit Singh (left), and the Managing Director of A.P. Aviation Corporation Ltd, Mr K.V. Brahmananda Reddy, exchanging documents after signing a memorandum of understanding for the upgradation of airports at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry in the presence of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, in Hyderabad on Wednesday. - Mohammed Yousuf

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Hyderabad Feb. 14 The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is hopeful that all the 35 non-metro airports being taken up for development would be completed by 2010. "They are under various stages of construction. Three to four airports would get ready every year. They are being taken up on a fast track," Mr Inderjit Singh, Executive Director of AAI, said.

Talking to reporters after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Andhra Pradesh Government for upgradation of Vijayawada and Rajahmundry airports, he said it had been decided to make all the runways at a minimum length of 7,500 feet.

"The benchmark (for handling) now has been A320. Nothing less than that," he said.

PROJECT COST

Keeping in mind the increasing air traffic in Tier-II cities, AAI has decided to develop Vijayawada and Rajahmundry airports at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

Both these airports would have 7,500-feet long runways, equipping them to handle wide-bodied aircraft.

Besides making facilities for handling 300 peak-hour passengers at Vijayawada, the AAI would install the Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range, a sophisticated en-route and terminal navigation tool.

Besides, the AAI would depute team of experts to Visakhapatnam to identify the site for the proposed independent civil airport there.

The State proposed four sites for the new airport. It also prepared plans to expand the Tirupati airport.

Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, had asked the AAI to stick to the deadline and complete the expansion plan in 18 months.

Privatisation

Replying to a question on AAI employees' opposition to privatisation of airports, Mr Singh said it was a matter of time before people started accepting and getting used to privatisation.

The private airports, which had been asked to retain at least 60-65 per cent of the staff, kept all of them, he said, bringing home the message that privatisation didn't mean retrenchment.

More Stories on : Modernisation | Airlines | Andhra Pradesh

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