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International airport to be opened soon: Praful Patel

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel and MP T. Subbarami Reddy sharing a lighter moment at the Sarva Bhaavana Sammelan on the occasion of the latter’s birthday in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: The international airport here, work on which is progressing at a brisk pace, will be inaugurated in three to four months, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel has said.

Mr. Patel was here to participate in the ‘Sarva Dharma Sama Bhaavana Sammelan,’ organised on the occasion of MP T. Subbarami Reddy’s birthday, on Wednesday.

He said that round-the-clock operations at the airport would begin after the new terminal buildings was inaugurated.

Direct flights, the Minister added, would be introduced to Singapore and other destinations.

He described the airport developments as Mr. Reddy’s birthday gift to the people of Visakhapatnam.

Earlier, in his address, Mr. Reddy described blindness as a ‘curse’ and spoke of his plans to collect pledges from one lakh people by his next birthday.

“The Vedas also advocate eye donation. We can see the world after death, if we donate eyes,” he said and pledged to donate his eyes.

He said that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had made Andhra Pradesh into a model State by introducing programmes like ‘Arogyasri.’

Earlier, spiritual leaders from Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh communities prayed for the country’s growth and progress .

Lyricist Padma Bhushan C. Narayana Reddy presided over the function.

Carnatic vocalist Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna was presented the National Integration Award-2008, actor Jamuna was given the Lifetime Achievement Award-2008, playback singer S. Janaki was given the Sangeeta Saraswati Award-2008 and the Visistha Kalakar Award-2008 went to comedian Brahmanandam.

Among those who attended the function were actors Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Vanisree, Sarada, M. Mohan Babu, Nagarjuna, Amala, Rajasekhar, Jeevitha, film writers Parachuri Brothers, playback singer P. Suseela, a host of peoples’ representatives and Congress leaders.

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