Top

AP government to set up Regional Airport Development Fund

APRADF will be used to provide financial support to develop and operate airports

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government plans to set up an Andhra Pradesh Regional Airport Development Fund (APRADF) with an initial amount of Rs 100 crore to provide financial support for regional airport development.

According to AP's draft civil aviation policy, the APRADF will be used to provide financial support to develop and operate airports as well as commercial airline operationswherever deemed necessary.

"The initial corpus will be Rs 100 crore," the draft policy said.

The AP state government proposes to 100 per cent exemption on stamp duty for land purchased or leased to develop and upgrade airports, as well as 100 per cent reimbursement on electricity duty and property tax, the draft policy said.

In order to expedite project related approvals and obtain land for key airport projects, the draft policy has proposed to create a project specific special purpose vehicle for speedy and smooth development of airports as well as other aviation infrastructure projects.

Once preparations are completed, the special purpose vehicle may be handed over to the successful bidder or consortium for project implementation, the draft policy said.

The government may retain a minority stake through equity and equivalent land cost or other means, as deemed fit at the stage, it added.

At present, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages five operational airports in AP namely Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Vijaywada, Rajahmundry and Kadapa, while Puttaparthi airport is managed by the Sri Satya Sai Trust.

Visakhapatnam airport, which has a civil enclave, is controlled by the Indian Navy.

Airports under AAI together handled 1.66 million passengers and 300 tonnes of cargo in FY15.

The AP government's vision is to make the state a preferred destination for investors and developers in the aviation sector by 2022, the draft policy said.

( Source : PTI )
Next Story