Hyderabad: In a move to develop world-class infrastructure and promote rapid economic growth, the AP government has decided to upgrade Tirupati and Vijayawada airports into international airports and develop ports along coastal districts. The Union government also agreed to extend financial aid for land acquisition for the expansion of Vijayawada, Tirupati and Visakhaptnam airports.  

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu persuaded the Centre to contribute to development of airports. In this connection, Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao addressed a letter to NITI Ayog. State Secretary (Energy and Investment and Infrastructure) Ajay Jain, who held a meeting with the officials of two departments on Sunday, deliberated over the proposed infrastructure development projects and additional power requirement and scope of energy efficiency in these projects.

The official said  the Minister of  Civil Aviation asked the State government and Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD) to furnish the details of bookings being made for Tirupati by NRIs through internet, tickets being made available to NRIs by TTD for darshan, the donors list, and the break darshan issued to NRIs.  The idea is to know the approximate number of NRIs, who visit Tirupati and Vijayawada every year, so that the Centre will consider starting international operations in both the airports at the earliest.

The official said that a “Coastal Master Plan” for comprehensive development of coastal districts   would be submitted to the Chief Minister by June 15 and the port policy will be finalised by the government soon. The government already directed the District Collectors of Krishna, Srikakulam,  Prakasam and West Godavari to speed up the process of land acquisition for Machilipatnam, Bhavanapadu, Ramayampet, Narsapur Ports.  

To develop AP  a model state in port industry.  Jain said the government directed the officials to furnish monthly progress report pertaining to the various issues of the said industry.  APTRANSCO Chairman and Managing Director  K Vijayanand and other officials were present.