Chandrababu Naidu-led government has issued orders allowing the Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Limited (APADCL) to take a loan of Rs 1,000 crore for the development of 4 new airports in the state. The government has decided to guarantee the loan of Rs 1,000 crore to be taken through HUDCO.
This loan will be used for the development of Kuppam, Dagadarthi, Srikakulam and Amaravati airports. The government has clarified that the loan can be used for land acquisition, infrastructure costs, viability gap fund and emergency use.
There are currently 7 airports in the state. Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Kadapa, Rajahmundry and Gannavaram airports are managed by the Airports Authority of India. While Kurnool Airport is under the auspices of the state government, there is a private airstrip in Puttaparthi. In addition to these, an international airport is being prepared in Bhogapuram.
However, the state government has decided to build 7 more new airports to meet the growing needs. As part of this, a plan has been prepared to build new airports in Kuppam, Dagadarthi, Srikakulam, Tadepalligudem, Nagarjunasagar, Tuni-Annavaram and Ongole. To this end, CM Chandrababu has already conducted a review on the expansion, construction and construction of new airports.
On the other hand, the government has started preparations for the construction of two greenfield international airports in AP. One of these is in the capital Amaravati and the other is planned to be set up in Srikakulam district. In this regard, the Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation (APADC) has also completed the tender process for the appointment of consultants to prepare a Technical and Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR) to examine the pre-feasibility.
The regulations state that the consultancy firm should also suggest which area is suitable for the establishment of the Amaravati International Airport. The APADC explained that the airport will be built in the northeast direction, 70 km from the city, near the sea coast in Srikakulam district.
It said that the consultancy firms should identify the technical and economic factors that will affect the construction and operation of these two airports. It said that a concept master plan, financial model and project structure should be prepared for the construction of the airports in accordance with the latest guidelines.
