Centre to evolve new aviation infrastructure policy

Hyderabad, Feb 12 (UNI) Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel today said the Centre would evolve a new aviation infrastructure policy to develop additional big and medium airports in the country.

Addressing a press conference, along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, at the newly-constructed Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here, he said the government proposed to develop 500 airports in the country in the next ten years.

He said the UPA government's progressive policies had made the air travel more affordable to the common people.

Stating that a new international airport would soon come up in Visakhaptnam, he said the airports at Rajahmundry and Vijayawada would be upgraded with night landing facilities.

Defending introduction of user charges at the airports, he said the Centre proposed to revive unused airports in the country.

He complimented the Andhra Pradesh government for reducing the sales tax on aviation turbine fuel and said this would welcome more flight services to the state.

Dr Reddy said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi would formally inaugurate the new airport on March 14.

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