HYDERABAD, 8 June — The Airports Authority of India has taken up development of infrastructure at Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam airports at an outlay of 1,500 million rupees. Addressing the media here yesterday, AAI member (planning) K. Ramalingam said that the existing runway at Hyderabad airport would be strengthened and extended to a total length of 10,500 feet to accommodate B-747 type of aircraft. The total estimated cost of the project is 500 million rupees. Pre-qualification tenders have been called for the works, which would be completed within 18 months from the award of contract, he added.
He said that the AAI has also taken up development of infrastructure at Visakhapatnam airport at an outlay of 1,000 million rupees to cater to domestic and international traffic. The airfield belongs to the defense sector (Indian Navy). AAI manages civil enclave, passenger facilitation and communication and navigational infrastructure.
A new 10,000 feet-long runway would be constructed at Visakhapatnam for accommodating AB 300 and B767 type of aircraft with associated safety measures. Construction of new apron, link taxiway, an isolation bay to park the aircraft, a terminal building for 400 passengers and car park and installation of high-intensity runway lighting are envisaged under the project.
About 300 acres of land is being acquired and pre-qualification tenders have been called for. The project cost of 1,000 million rupees would be shared by the Navy (500 million rupees), AAI and Andhra Pradesh government (250 million rupees each) and the land is being given by Visakhapatnam Port Trust.
Ramalingam said that the existing runway of 9,080 feet at Hyderabad airport, which is capable of handling up to A 300 type of aircraft, has been improved with profile correction and resurfacing work completed in November 2000 at a cost of 80 million rupees to enhance air safety.
“Hyderabad is the high tech city of India. It has been declared an international airport recently. The Malaysia Airlines has started operating flights from here. The Air-India has also increased the number of flights to and from Hyderabad. The Emirates Airlines is also slated to start operations from Hyderabad soon,” the AAI member (planning) said. Hyderabad has been the first non-metro airport to get four aero-bridges at a cost of 60 million rupees. It has been equipped with state-of-the-art MSSR, VOR/DME and the ILS navigational equipment at an outlay of 350 million rupees. Work on extension of apron for accommodating two more aircraft and construction of isolation bay for handling any hijacked aircraft has been taken up at an outlay of 43 million rupees and it would be completed in March 2002. The AAI has set up the perishable cargo complex at a cost of 16 million rupees for handling perishable cargo in conjunction with APEDA and AP State Trading Corporation. Passenger amenities are also being improved at the NTR domestic terminal.
Detailing other projects in Andhra Pradesh, the AAI member (planning) said that the runway of 7,500 feet length suitable for A320 type of aircraft has been constructed at Tirupathi airport and a new terminal building commissioned along with other infrastructure at an investment of 180 million rupees. Upgradation of facilities has also been taken up at Vijayawada airport at a cost of Rs 90 million.
The AAI has embarked on infrastructure development at Rajahmundry airport at an outlay of 85 million rupees for strengthening the existing runway, construction of a new apron, taxiway and other facilities.
