Centre clears the air on fears of shutting down Visakhapatnam airport

Banishing the fears that Visakhapatnam International Airport might be closed after launching the new airport at Bhogapuram, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has made it clear the closure of the former was not possible.

Reportedly, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) stated its decision, to not shut down the city’s airport, to the Andhra Pradesh Airport Development Corporation Ltd (APADCL), to avoid any complications in the future. This came after multiple reports claimed the closure of the International Airport in Visakhapatnam once the Bhogapuram Airport got operational.

Responding to a question raised by YSRCP MP V. Vijay Sai Reddy in the Rajya Sabha, Jayant Sinha, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, pointed out that the investments made in Visakhapatnam International Airport were heavy and closure wasn’t possible. The Minister of State also mentioned that the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation had given in-principle clearance to APADCL on October 7, 2016.

It was earlier informed that investments were made on the currently operational airport to develop the airside capacity. Plans were also afoot to facilitate larger traffic of passengers travelling through the airport.

The airport project at Bhogapuram was proposed a few years ago. The airport will be coming up at a distance of 40 km from Visakhapatnam International Airport, which operates from the naval airbase, INS Dega.

News Credits: The Hindu