2.5.15

AP to develop 6 new airports

Aiming to develop six new airports apart from upgrading the existing ones in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati as international airports, the Andhra Pradesh government announced its draft civil aviation policy. The new policy assured incentivizing airlines to operate regular air services from and to all regional airports within the state on a need basis.
An international airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district and four low-cost airports at Kuppam (Chittoor), Dagadarthi (Nellore), Orvakallu (Kurnool) and Tadepalligudem (West Godavari) have been proposed in the draft policy. Apart from these, the policy also proposes to take up development of Donakonda and Nagarjunasagar airstrips.
To make Andhra Pradesh a preferred destination for investment in aviation and allied businesses by creating airports as hubs of economic activity , it was proposed to facilitate multi-modal connectivity of airports with ports, expressways and railways. It also proposes to promote seaplane services and aero sports activities and tourism and to encourage air ambulance services and disaster management.
The policy identifies need to develop aviation infrastructure through development of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities and air cargo facilities such as cold storages, air freight stations (AFS), warehouses and other air cargo processing facilities.
The policy proposes to set up aviation training and educational institutes, airport cities (aerotropolis) around major airports to leverage the economic potential around airports and aerospace parks and special economic zones near major airports. The policy identified the PPP model to attract new investments in the civil aviation sector and intends to provide Rs.100 crore to set up the Andhra Pradesh Regional Airport Development Fund to take up the development activity .

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