CM Inaugurates New Terminal of Vijayawada Airport

Vijayawada, January 12: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu appealed the union ministers to develop Vijayawada airport as an international airport and name it after NTR Amaravati airport. The Chief Minister and union ministers including P Ashok Gajapati Raju, M Venkaiah Naidu, YS Chowdary and Bandaru Dattatreya laid foundation for expansion of run way before inaugurating the new terminal.

Inaugurating the new terminal complex of Vijayawada airport on Thrusday, the Chief Minister asked the Airports authority of India to establish maintenance, repair and overhauling of aircraft facilities in Andhra Pradesh and the state is ready to extend necessary cooperation.

Stating that Andhra Pradesh tops in growth rate of civil aviation the Chief Minister asked the Airports Authority of India to develop a permanent terminal to suit the needs of international operations from Vijayawada airport. He hoped that international operations will be introduced from the airport soon.

The Chief Minister said air connectivity is more important for the development of the region. He said if cargo services were introduced from the airport it would help farmers in a big way and help to boost the economy of the region. He asked the officials to consider airport at Krishnapatnam instead of at Dagadarthi in Nellore district as it would help development of the region with the existing port operations.

The Chief Minister thanked the farmers for offering 750 acres of land for expansion of the airport. He said that the state government would protect the interests of farmers who offered their lands.

Speaking on the occasion Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said air connectivity is important for the development of the region. He said the development of airport would help to introduce cargo operations from here. He said Polavaram project, development of airports and Visakhapatnam-Chennai coastal corridor would help for the development of the region and Modi government is ready to extend necessary cooperation for the development of the state.

Union Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that the newly inaugurated terminal building would be converted as cargo terminal after completion of a permanent terminal building within two years. He thanked Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for bringing down the VAT on aviation fuel to one per cent to encourage development of civil aviation in the state. He said AP is the first state to offer lands free of cost for development of airports.

Union Ministers Bandaru Dattatreya, YS Chowdary, MPs K Narayana Rao, Kesineni Srinivas and MLA V Vamsimohan spoke.
AAI chairman Guru Prasad Mohapatra, Civil aviation secretary RN chubey, AAI planning member S Raheja and others were present.