Contrary to popular belief that the proposed development of an international airport at Amaravati is a far cry, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is keen on having the new facility in place at the shortest possible time.
At a closed-door meeting with a select group of industrialists in the city, Mr. Naidu made it clear that the domestic airport at Gannavaram, which is being upgraded into an international airport, would only be a “temporary” facility, and that a grand international-level structure would be built in a 5,000 acres plot in Amaravati.
The Gannavaram airport is spread across 536 acres and is surrounded by farm lands, and it has been proposed to add 697 acres more under the land pooling system for its expansion, which will pave the way for the expansion of the runway, creation of a bigger terminal, besides facilitating maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.
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The proposed airport expansion project has been hanging fire for several years, with farmers in the region refusing to part with their lands, resulting in an inordinate delay in the implementation of the project.
Krishna District Collector Babu A., in a recent meeting with officials of Revenue, Irrigation, Roads & Buildings departments and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had said 697.02 acres were required for upgrading facilities at the domestic airport.
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Mr. Naidu’s observation on the proposed airport in Amaravati assumes significance, since officials engaged in the Gannavaram airport expansion works have been ruling out the new facility in the immediate future.
CM tells industrialists that Gannavaram airport will only be a “temporary” facility, and the international structure will be built in 5,000 acres in Amaravati