Two airports likely within 150-km radius

• Govt proposes to develop a greenfield airport in capital region Amaravati
• AAI official says permission for two airports within 150-km radius is difficult
• However, govt is procuring lands to expand existing Gannavaram airport
• Chamber office-bearer rules out any clash since a new airport will come up only after 5 years

Vijayawada: The State government is planning to develop a green field airport within proposed Outer Ring Road of Amaravati capital to provide access to people of Vijayawada, Guntur, Amaravati capital, Tenali and Mangalagiri. Minister P Narayana said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the CRDA officials to study the technical possibilities of green field airport by discussing with Airport Authority of India officials.

However, the decision of State government created apprehensions among people over the existence of present Vijayawada airport located at Gannavaram village. It may be noted here that government is planning to expand the Vijayawada airport by acquiring land under land pooling to develop it as an international airport.

The officials also planning to shift the alignment of Eluru canal to facilitate the expansion of runway to accommodate big flights. At this juncture the idea of government to develop green field airport in Amaravati capital raises doubts among people on progress of Vijayawada airport. An official of Airports Authority of India said there would be no possibility for location of two airports within 150 km radius and as per technical reasons and only one signalling tower has to function.

He said as the development of new green field airport takes more than five years until then there is no problem for existing airport. The official said that the same problem will arise with Bhogapuram airport too. Since if Bhogapuram airport located within 40 km radius from Visakhapatnam airport the Visakhapatnam airport may be restrained from civil aviation operations and confined to military operations.

He feels that there is a chance that the new green field airport may be developed and maintained by private bidder on BOT system. Cochin airport is the first private airport in the country and green field airports were developed in Bangalore and Hyderabad too.

However, the idea of State government to develop green field airport would help for future requirements and there would be no threat to the development of Vijayawada airport, observed Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation executive director P Bhasakara Rao. He said that the government may be planning for future requirements in case of Amaravati capital development and necessity of second airport and getting ready to allot necessary land in capital region.