Round-the-clock operations at Visakhapatnam airport will soon become a reality with the Defence Minister giving his approval and the file sent to the Ministry of Finance for final approval.
Round-the-clock operation of the airport is a must for international airlines to plan their schedules and introduce new flights.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony has cleared the file after Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari, who represents Visakhapatnam in the Lok Sabha, took up the issue with him following representations made by Visakha Air Travellers' Association (VATA) and the Chamber of Commerce, according to O. Naresh Kumar of VATA.
He said Minister for Infrastructure and Ports Ganta Srinivasa Rao hado agreed to pursue the matter. The Association commended Union Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju and Airport Director K. Srinivasa Rao for their initiative. He said Singapore Airlines had announced its decision to start direct flights from October 1.