The Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has urged the Krishna district administration to initiate the process of acquiring land for expansion and modernisation of the Vijayawada airport.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, ACCI president M. Muralikrishna pointed to the fact that the Department of Infrastructure and Investment had given approval for acquisition of 491.92 acres in Buddhavaram, Kesarapalli and Ajjampudi villages for the purpose. “Now that the way is clear, we hope the district administration will act immediately without any further loss of time and hand over the land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI),” said Mr. Muralikrishna.

The ACCI president also recalled the chamber’s oft-repeated plea to grant international airport status to the Vijayawada airport, as it serves the needs of at least seven districts. There was a substantial NRI population (around 4 lakh) hailing from this area and mostly living or working in the US and some of them in European or Gulf nations. Provision of full-fledged facilities would result in growth in the passenger traffic, both domestic and overseas, he said. Vijayawada was strategically located and a modern and developed airport was a long-felt need of the people here. The need assumed greater significance in view of the impending bifurcation of the State and the subsequent necessity to create airport infrastructure of international quality, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – October 12th, 2013