CM reviews progress of work on Air, Sea Ports

Hyderabad, Oct 24 (UNI) About 43 per cent of the overall works of the Hyderabad International Airport (HIAL) at Shamshabad, one of the biggest projects of its kind in India set up through a public-private partnership, is complete and it is all set to start functioning from March 2008, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was informed today.

Dr Reddy who reviewed the progress of all intermediate and minor ports and airports with Minister and officials, was informed that the Gangavaram Port work was going on in full swing. Phase 1 of this Port would become operational by March 2008, an official release said.

Phase I of the Krishnapatnam Port would be operational by June 2008. Construction of berths and brake waters was under brisk progress.

Dr Reddy was told that site preparation works for the HIAL had been fully completed, boundary walls fully constructed, runway major works and taxiways almost completed and the work was progressing ahead of schedule. All the project construction activities were expected to be completed by November 2007 and the new airport would start operations by March 2008, the release said.

He instructed that all connectivity roads to the airport should be completed early. The access road from NH seven to the international Airport has been scheduled to be completed by February 2007.

The State Government also decided to develop an International Airport at Visakhapatnam, for which the Airports Authority of India (AAI) would conduct a feasibility study. The approved draft of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been sent to AAI for development of Rajahmundry and Vijayawada Airports for approval and for which additional land would have to be made available. Night landing facility would be made at Tirupati Airport soon.

He also discussed the proposals for smaller airports at Tadepalligudem, Nellore and Kadapa. He has also reviewed the master plan for Kakinada Port for Land use and water front.

Transport Minister J Rammohan Rao, Principal Secretary Transport, Roads&Buildings T Chatterjee and other officials were present during the review.

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