The Civil Aviation Ministry is taking all steps to improve the infrastructure in airports in Andhra Pradesh, to handle both passengers as well as air cargo and to improve air connectivity in the state.

Civil Aviation Minister, Suresh Prabhu, was speaking in New Delhi on Tuesday after laying the foundation stone for the expansion of the airport terminal here through video link. He was interacting with the airport officials and audience here through video-conference.

He said the project, taken up at a cost of Rs 60 crore, would enable the terminal to handle a thousand passengers during the peak hour as against the present capacity of 700 passengers. The project is likely to be completed by September.

Concurring with the suggestion made by Visakhapatnam M.P K. Haribabu earlier, the Union Minister agreed that there was huge potential for growth of cargo in Vizag. An intergrated logistics hub would be developed at Vizag airport.

Former Union Minister of Civil Aviation and TDP leader, P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, said the development works at Vizag, Rajahmundry and Vijayawada airports, were made possible due to the combined efforts of the Central and state governments.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha, also spoke.

Earlier, Prabhu also inaugurated through a video link the new, lengthened runway at Gannavaram airport near Vijayawada taken up at a cost of Rs 160 crore. The old runway was of approximately 7,500 ft and 3,500 ft was added to it and the runway was strengthened to facilitate landing of bigger aircraft at Gannavaram. Gannavaram is the nearest airport to the new capital, Amaravati.

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