The Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, which is determined to achieve world class infrastructure development, now decided to develop Tirupati and Vijayawada Airports as International Airports paving the way for rapid economic development and enhancement of the image of the State at global level.
With the intervention of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the Centre has agreed to bear the cost of land acquisition for expansion of Airports at Vijayawada, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam. In this connection, Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao, has addressed a letter to CEO NITI Ayog, Govt. of India, New Delhi. With Regard to the proposed International Airports at these places, the Civil Aviation Minister requested the State Govt. and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam to give information on bookings made for Tirupati by NRIs through internet, for Darshan, tickets made available to NRIs by TTD, the donors list, 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 Civil Aviation Ministry can consider starting international operations in both the Airports at the earliest. Similarly, use of social media like You Tube, Face Book for getting response from NRIs on the proposal of starting international operations at Vijayawada and Tirupati is also under consideration by the State government.
Disclosing these details, Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy, I&I Dept, who has discussed with K. Vijayanand, MD/APGENCO & CMD/APTRANSCO (FAC), K Rangannatham, Advisor, Energy Dept., Mutyala Raju, CMD/APEPDCL HY DORA, CMD/APSPDCL, Sambasiva Rao, VC & MD, Infra-structure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh, on the proposed infrastructure development projects and its impact on additional power requirement and Scope of Energy efficiency in these projects, stated that Coastal Master Plan for comprehensive development of coastal districts will be submitted to the Chief Minister by June 15 and port policy will be finalized by the government soon. The Chief Secretary has directed the district Collectors of Krishna, Srikakulam, Prakasam and West Godavari to expedite the process of land acquisition for Machilipatnam, Bhavanapadu, Ramayampet, Narsapur Ports.
The Govt. was also contemplating to study the best practices of all the ports of neighbouring States so as to develop Andhra Pradesh as a model State in port industry. For this, the government has directed the officials to furnish the monthly progress report pertaining to various issues of the industry. The Secretary has suggested K. Vijayanand, CMD/APTRANSCO, K. Rangannatham, Advisor, Energy Dept., Adhishesu, MD/Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Limited and M Kamalakar babu, MD/NREDCAP to follow up with the foreign manufacturing industries, who have shown interest for setting up of units in the field of Renewable Energy i.e. Trina Solar, JA Solar, Xian Longji Solar, YI Solar, Ming Yang Wind Power, TBEA (Tebian Electric Apparatus) and Yingli Solar. (NSS)
