Andhra Pradesh: New Vijayawada Airport Terminal To Be Ready By October
The Airports Authority of India had awarded the terminal construction contract to a new contractor in June: Reports
VIJAYAWADA: The new terminal building of the Vijayawada International Airport is likely to be completed by October and inaugurated soon thereafter, airport director M. Lakshmi Kantha Reddy said on Friday.
Speaking at an interactive meeting organised by AP Chambers at its office here, Reddy said the Airports Authority of India had awarded the terminal construction contract to a new contractor in June.
The facility will have multi-level operations, six aerobridges, escalators, state-of-the-art technology and a modern ambience, besides scope for future expansion.
The airport currently handles 22 flights and around 2,000 passengers a day, while its apron can accommodate 26 aircraft. It has connectivity to several major domestic destinations and international services to Singapore and Sharjah three times a week.
AP Chambers president Potluri Bhaskara Rao said the chamber had been working for the airport’s development for several years, recognising the importance of infrastructure to industrial growth. He sought direct connectivity to Dubai, hub-and-spoke links to major international destinations and convenient timings to cities within Andhra Pradesh. He also urged the airport authorities to establish a dedicated cold-storage cargo facility for perishable products.
Reddy said Fly91 would soon launch morning flights to Tirupati, benefiting devotees. Direct Dubai connectivity could facilitate travel to Europe and America, while a hub-and-spoke model could be introduced after the new terminal became operational.
He said security and baggage checks for international passengers could then be completed at Vijayawada itself. An exclusive integrated cargo terminal was planned in the long term, he said, adding that the existing terminal could be converted into a cargo facility in the interim.
