Government to expand runway: Patel

Vijayawada, Mar 15 (UNI) Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel has agreed to expand the runway of Gannavaram Airport.

The City MP Lagadapati Rajagopal said in a statement here today that Mr Patel had directed the officials to take up the work of runway extension and provide facilities like filling and instrument landing system at the airport without delay.

Mr Rajagopal said the present 6,000-foot runway, would be expanded to 7,500-foot, facilitating the landing of Boeing and other flights.

He said once the work gets completed, the airport would be connected with other airports in the state and the neighbouring cities in view of the growing air traffic.

The instrumental landing system, if installed, would facilitate the landing of flights under any conditions and would ensure regular operations at the airport, he said.

In the absence of the system, the flights were being cancelled, often due to poor visibility at the airport, causing inconvenience to the passengers, he added.

UNI CS KVV YA VC1205