Civil Aviation ministry clears four new airport projects

The Dollar Business Bureau

The Civil Aviation ministry has on Monday cleared four new airport projects, which include three projects in Andhra Pradesh and one in Telangana.

“The Steering Committee on Greenfield airports headed by Secretary, Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India met and considered four new airport projects. The Committee recommended ‘in principle’ approval to 3 projects in Andhra Pradesh (AP) viz, Bhogapuram, Dagadarthi (Nellore) and Orvakallu (Kurnool),” said a statement released by the Civil Aviation ministry.

The Steering Committee also recommended for ‘site clearance’ to the Kothagudem project in Telangana. With this, the state will get a second Greenfield airport in addition to the Hyderabad International airport.

The State Government will develop the new international airport at Bhogapuram (AP) under the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) mode at an expected cost of Rs.2200 crore. In the initial phase, the airport will cater to around 6.3 million passengers per year.

The two other airports in AP, Dagadarthi (Nellore) and Orvakallu (Kurnool), will be established as domestic no-frills airports, each with an expected cost of Rs.88 crores. Dagadarthi project will be established under the PPP model while State Government itself will develop the airport at Orvakallu.

These clearances by the Committee are likely to improve the facilities for aviation infrastructure in the recently created states of AP and Telangana. In addition, these will enhance the Regional Connectivity Scheme, recently announced by the Central Government.