Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today asked the Central government to help develop the Vijayawada airstrip into an international airport, and rechristen it to "NTR Amaravathi airport".
The Chief Minister, and Union Ministers including P Ashok Gajapati Raju, M Venkaiah Naidu, Y S Chowdary and Bandaru Dattatreya laid foundations for the expansion of the runway before inaugurating the new terminal.
Inaugurating the new terminal complex, the Chief Minister asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to establish an aircraft hangar in Andhra Pradesh with maintenance, repair and overhauling facilities, and promised that the State was ready to give necessary support.
Stating that AP topped in growth rate of civil aviation, the Chief Minister asked the AAI to develop a permanent terminal to suit the needs of global operations in the airport. He hoped that the airport would soon facilitate international departures and arrivals soon.
Naidu said that air connectivity was more important for the development of the region, and added that if cargo services were introduced in the airport, it would help farmers and boost the economy of the region.
He also asked the officials to consider building an airport at Krishnapatnam instead of at Dagadarthi in the Nellore district as that would help develop the region with the existing port operations.
The Chief Minister thanked the farmers for "offering" 750 acres of land for the expansion of the airport and promised that the State government would protect their interests.
filed in:Chandrababu Naidu, Airports, Development Projects, Union Ministers, Aviation