Krishna Rao reviews progress of projects in AP

Hyderabad, Nov 10 (INN): Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao held a meeting today with Energy, Infrastructure and Investment Departments to review on the progress of projects viz., Airport, Ports and Logistics, Gas and Infrastructure etc.,. in Andhra Pradesh.

Firstly, the Chief Secretary reviewed on the performance of Airports for the current year. There is a growth about 49% Passenger Traffic in the State till October 2015. New Passenger Terminal building at Tirupati Airport was inaugurated recently by Prime Minister Narender Modi and target is fixed making it functional by end of this month. Four additional parking bay and one isolation bay works are finalized and likely to be completed by July 2016. Out of 732 acres 725 acres of land was handed over to Airport Authority of India (AAI) for expansion of runway under Phase-I. Status of the International Airport for Tirupati would likely to be done in the month of December 2015 and works for customs and immigration counters are underway.

For construction of new passenger terminal at Vijayawada Airport with a cost of Rs.137 Crores works are commenced and the Airport will be expanded with International Standards. 698 Acres of land is required for expansion of the Airport and Government of A.P. issued necessary orders by land pooling. For the Rajahmundry Airport detailed estimates for expansion of runway are under preparation by AAI. Works for construction of three additional Apron bays are under progress and 857 acres of the required land for expansion of the Airport will be handed over to AAI by end of this month.

Progress of Bhogapuram (Vizianagaram) International Airport was also reviewed and Secretary I&I was advised to expedite the process.

Performance of the Ports in Andhra Pradesh is with a growth of 4.5% till October 2015. Krishnapatnam, Ganagavaram, Kakinada Deep Water ports are functional. Progress of Machilipatnam, Narasapuram and Ramayapatnam Port Projects are reviewed. Logistic Parks (LP) at Visakhapatnam, Krishnapatnam and Kakinda are discussed. 98 acres of land for Visakhapatnam and 142 acres of Land for Krishnapatnam Logistic Parks land is transferred. DPR for Kakinada LP is under progress under concur corporation of Railways.

Under development of National Waterway (NW) proposed Buckingham canal (NW-4) will be developed in three phases in Andhra Pradesh. North Buckingham Canal from Ennore Sea mouth to Pedaganjam for 300 KMs (Phase-1); Kommamu, Eluru and Kakinada canal from Pedaganjam to Kakinada on the assurances of adequate water for 302 KMs (Phase-2); Development of river portion of 328 KMs (Krishna and Godavari of NW-4) on completion of ongoing construction of Dams with navigations locks (Phase-3). Chief Secretary said that Government of Andhra Pradesh is conducting delineation survey which is expected to be completed by January 2016 is current status of development of NW-4.

Solar Parks under Energy Projects at Ananthapuramu, Kurnool, Kadapa, Krishna, Srikakualm and Visakahaptnam Districts works are entrusted to NTPC and APGENCO.

Status of the Gas Infrastructure Projects Kakinada-Visakhapatnam-Srikakulam pipeline was reviewed and City Gas Distribution and CNG for East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna Districts geographical area has notified by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

Proposed construction of three star hotels and commercials complexes at Guntur, Rajahmundry and Viajayawada, establishment of International Schools, Sports Complex, beach corridors techno-economic feasibility studies and progress so far was reviewed in the meeting. The progress of Fibre Grid Phase-I was reviewed and department was asked to get it completed by December 2015 in three districts (Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam).

As there is no rail connectivity for the proposed new Capital Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Secretary directed Sri Ajay Jain to focus on it again and again to get a new railway line for the Capital City by connecting Vijayawada-Chennai lane with Guntur-Macherla lane via Amaravati.

The Chief Secretary has appreciated the Energy and I&I Department officials for their efforts showing on these projects.

Secretary I&I Ajay Jain, Managing Director INCAP K. Sambasiva Rao, CMD APGENCO Vijayanand and others attended.