Director General of Civil Aviation boost for Gannavaram airport

Vijayawada: In all likelihood, the Director General of Civil Aviation may renew the licence for the Gannavaram airport for two years, instead of one year like it did in the past.

Indications to this effect emerged after a two-member DGCA committee completed its three-day inspection of the airport on Wednesday.

DGCA officials R.S. Dega and S. Subramanyam appeared quite satisfied with the available facilities and security arrangements, said reliable sources.

The  sources said that the panel members recommended the renewal of the licence for two years.

The committee members also inspected the functioning of Air Traffic Control System and basic structure of the airport. 

They also reviewed the security measures in place at the airport, in light of recent alerts by the security agencies that the airport was on terrorists’ radar.

It may be mentioned here that the DGCA’s security experts had earlier visited the airport and had given some suggestions to be put in place before the proposed airport expansion works began.

The sources said that the Dega and Subramanyam too gave some suggestions regarding facilities for passengers, besides some observations on the security arrangements.

Meanwhile, the airport officials have submitted proposals for the construction of new towers and other works at the airport worth Rs 170 crore.

These proposals are expected to be approved and the funds allotted after the land acquisition process is completed.

The state government has already allotted Rs 280 crore for the land acquisition process.