AP Govt to develop Tirupati, Vijayawada airports

Hyderabad, May 31 (INN): The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to develop Tirupati and Vijayawada airports as International Airports.

The move is aimed at paving the way for rapid economic development and enhancing the image of the State at the global level. With the intervention of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the Government of India has agreed to bear the cost of land acquisition for expansion of airports at Vijayawada, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam. In this connection, Chief Secretary Dr. IYR Krishna Rao has addressed a letter to CEO NITI Ayog.

With Regard to the proposed International Airports at the above places, the Minister of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has requested the State Govt. and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam for following information. a) Bookings made for Tirupati by NRIs through internet, b) For Darshan, tickets made available to NRIs by TTD c) The Donors list, d) Break Darshan issued to NRIs. The idea is to know the approximate number of NRIs who visit Tirupati and Vijayawada every year so that MoCA can consider for starting international operations in both the Airports at the earliest. Similarly use of social media like You Tube, Face Book for getting response from NRIs on the proposal of starting international operations at Vijayawada and Tirupati is also under consideration by GoAP.

Disclosing the above details, Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy, I&I Dept. who has discussed with K. Vijayanand, MD/APGENCO & CMD/APTRANSCO (FAC), K Rangannatham, Advisor, Energy Dept., Mutyala Raju,CMD/APEPDCL HY DORA, CMD/APSPDCL, Sambasiva Rao, VC & MD, Infra-structure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh, on the proposed infrastructure development projects and its impact on additional power requirement and Scope of Energy efficiency in these projects, stated that Coastal Master Plan for comprehensive development of Coastal Districts will be submitted to the Chief Minister by 15th of June and port policy will be finalized by the Govt. soon .

The Chief Secretary has directed the District collectors of Krishna, Srikakulam, Prakasam & West Godavari to expedite the process of land acquisition for Machilipatnam, Bhavanapadu, Ramayampet, Narsapur Ports.

The government is also contemplating to study the best practices of all the ports of neighbouring states so as to develop Andhra Pradesh as a model state in port industry. For this Govt. has directed the officials to furnish the monthly progress report pertaining to the various issues of the said industry. The Secretary has suggested K. Vijayanand, CMD/APTRANSCO, K. Rangannatham, Advisor, Energy Dept., Adhishesu, MD/Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Limited and M Kamalakar babu, MD/NREDCAP to follow up with the foreign manufacturing industries, who have shown interest for setting up of units in the field of Renewable Energy i.e. 1. Trina Solar, 2. JA Solar, 3. Xian Longji Solar, 4. YI Solar, 5. Ming Yang Wind Power, 6. TBEA (Tebian Electric Apparatus), 7. Yingli Solar. (