The two-day visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Tirupati from September 5 has been put off by 10 days. He will now arrive at Tirupati on September 16 and lay the foundation stone for the NTPC-BHEL project on September 17.
According to the earlier schedule, the Prime Minister was to lay the foundation stone for the international airport and also the NTPC-BHEL project at Mannavaram on September 6. A press release from the Chief Minister’s office said the main reason for the postponement of the tour was the delay by the airport developer in completing the financial tie-up for the Tirupati International Airport. The issue is presently pending with the Civil Aviation Ministry.
The Prime Minister, however, is prepared to lay the foundation stone for the Mannavaram NTPC-BHEL Project. The Prime Minister told the Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy that the Tirupati International Airport is also equally important since it is one of the most important pilgrimage centres in the world.
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Meanwhile, the Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary P. Ramakantha Reddy to be in touch with the Civil Aviation Ministry for the earliest completion of the financial tie-up of the Airport.