The Hindu Business Line : Vizag runway ready for take-off

The new runway at Visakhapatnam airport is ready and, if all procedures are completed, it may be inaugurated by the Telugu New Year's Day (Ugadi), on March 20. This marks a significant phase in the growth of the city as an industrial centre, IT hub and a tourist destination.

For the past three-four years, the Vizag airport has been in the news, mostly for the wrong reasons — frequent disruption of flights in winter due to poor visibility or inundations during monsoon.

Mr N. Janardhana Reddy, MP from Visakhapatnam, said he had raised the issue of the Vizag runway in the House during zero hour and Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, had assured him that the remaining procedures would be completed at the earliest and the runway commissioned.

The expansion of the airport, and the construction of a new runway, was taken up when the Telugu Desam Party Government was in power more than four years ago and it was completed this January.

The Instrument Landing System has also been set up at the runway, which is under the control of the Navy. The expansion project was jointly taken up by the Navy, the Airports Authority of India and the State Government.

The AAI's flight inspection unit, which calibrates the ILS and certifies its validity, has to complete the procedure. "We are hopeful that the procedures may be completed before Ugadi (March 20) or at least by month-end. Several airlines such as Paramount and Air Deccan have finalised their summer schedules and plan to operate night flights from Vizag," Mr Janardhana Reddy said.

Once the 10,000-foot runway is cleared for operation, wide-bodied aircraft will be able to land and take-off even at nights and when the visibility is not so good.

"It will trigger the growth of Vizag as a modern city and tourist destination. It is a good sign that the AAI has signed an agreement with the State Government for the expansion of Rajahmundry and Vijayawada airports as well. These three airports will play a crucial role in the growth of the entire Krishna-Godavari region, rich in natural resources, especially oil and gas," he said.

Mr Reddy said Mr Praful Patel had also assured him that the new airport terminal would be completed by the year-end and efforts would be made to provide all the amenities and facilities to attract more airlines to operate from Vizag.

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