Kakinada: Union Minister for Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said the NDA government has given a big boost to the Civil Aviation sector. The number of airports has increased from 74 in 2014 to 149 at present. This number will go up to 220 in the near future, he said.
The minister laid the stone for construction of a new air terminal and expansion of the Madhurapudi airport at a cost of '347.15 crore near Rajahmundry in East Godavari district on Sunday.
He said the Union Government wanted to expand the civil aviation network across towns. “The income levels are increasing with an expansion of the economy. The number of air passengers would grow substantially even in Rajamahendravaram,” he said.
The minister said that in future, the Madhurapudi airport would be able to handle 30 lakhs passengers per annum. The new terminal is being constructed on a space of 21,094 square feet with a capacity to handle 2,100 passengers at a time. There would be 28 check-in counters, four arrival enclosures, a car parking lot with a capacity to hold 600 cars and a five star rating.
At present, 18 air services are running from the airport and 250 passengers are flying to various destinations from the airport every day. “The number of passengers would rise to more than 1400 from the airport in the near future.”
Scindia said Rajamahendravaram was known as the state’s cultural capital. It is scenically located near River Godavari. The airport would be tastefully developed, he said.
“The airport would be developed in ways such as to introduce international air services with a matching ambience and technical excellence. Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati airports have been developed as international airports while the Bhogapuram, Mumbai and Delhi Airports would become greenfield airports. The Kadapa and Kurnool airports have also been developed,” he said.
Airport Authority of India chairman Sanjay Kumar said the runway of the Madhurapudi airport has been extended from 1,200 metres in 2019 to 3,600 metres. This airport would be developed as part of the government’s plan of developing airports in non-metro cities.
BJP state president D Purandeswari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed at making India the third largest economic force from its present fifth place. Due to development of small airports, the surrounding areas also would develop. The government is creating necessary infrastructure facilities at various airports, she noted.
Industries minister Gudivada Amaranath said that the new terminal would be constructed within 24 months. The Union Government and the state government were jointly making efforts to develop the airports in the state, he stated.
Rajanagaram MLA Jakkampudi Raja Indravandit requested the Union Government to grant Special Category Status to AP and implement all the promises made during the state bifurcation. “Farmers sacrificed their lands for the airport,” he said.
Rajamahendravaram MP, M Bharat, said chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was keen on developing the Godavari districts along with the Rajamahendravaram city. East Godavari collector Madhavi latha, joint collector Thej Bharat, municipal commissioner Dinesh Kumar, Gopalapuram MLA Talari Venkatrao and others were present.
