₹347 crore new terminal, facelift for Rajahmundry Airport
By : Sampat G. Samritan
Update: 2024-09-21 17:11 GMT
Vijayawada: Rajahmundry Airport is getting a facelift, apart from a new terminal and other amenities, at a cost of ₹347 crore.
The airport currently operates 10 arrivals / departures daily to sectors like Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru. A direct flight to Delhi is going to be launched once the revised schedule comes up in October. In addition, a few more flights are in the offing.
Keeping in view the expected growth, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sanctioned ₹202 crore for a new terminal at the Rajahmundry Airport. The remaining amount of ₹145 crore will be spent on other amenities like aero bridges, commercial lounges and outlets, washrooms with latest gadgets, and so on.
The existing terminal can accommodate nearly 1,300 passengers at a time during peak hours. Once the new terminal is completed, the two terminals will be able to handle over 2,000 passengers.
The existing terminal will be used for arrivals and the new terminal for departures, so that passengers can arrive at and depart from the airport from two separate entrances, unlike only one entrance at present for both arrivals and departures.
Union minister for civil aviation K. Ram Mohan Naidu recently visited the airport and reviewed the ongoing works. He asked the AAI authorities to complete the works in an expeditious manner, so that the new terminal can be started as per schedule.
Rajahmundry Airport director S. Gnaneswara Rao said, “We are expecting the new terminal with all amenities to be completed by August next year. We will then be able to comfortably accommodate more passengers at the airport.”
Significantly, Rajahmundry Airport has a long runway with a length of 3,165 metres, which is almost equal to the one at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. It can thus handle Airbus 321, Boeing 377 and other big-sized aircraft.
The airport has a cargo terminal too. There is not much traffic though as currently, only ATRs are handling the cargo.
The existing terminal can accommodate nearly 1,300 passengers at a time during peak hours. Once the new terminal is completed, the two terminals will be able to handle over 2,000 passengers.
The existing terminal will be used for arrivals and the new terminal for departures, so that passengers can arrive at and depart from the airport from two separate entrances, unlike only one entrance at present for both arrivals and departures.
Union minister for civil aviation K. Ram Mohan Naidu recently visited the airport and reviewed the ongoing works. He asked the AAI authorities to complete the works in an expeditious manner, so that the new terminal can be started as per schedule.
Rajahmundry Airport director S. Gnaneswara Rao said, “We are expecting the new terminal with all amenities to be completed by August next year. We will then be able to comfortably accommodate more passengers at the airport.”
Significantly, Rajahmundry Airport has a long runway with a length of 3,165 metres, which is almost equal to the one at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. It can thus handle Airbus 321, Boeing 377 and other big-sized aircraft.
The airport has a cargo terminal too. There is not much traffic though as currently, only ATRs are handling the cargo.