Cargo services in Rajahmundry Airport soon

Rajamahendravaram: Cargo services will commence from Rajahmundry Airport soon, stated Airport Director M Raj Kishore to The Hans India here on Wednesday.

Speaking to this newspaper, he said a three-member team consisting of air cargo general manager Muralidhar, chief security officer Sukumaran and security bureau civil aviation regional director Joy Paul will visit the cargo buildings and other necessary facilities on Thursday in this regard.

He said the committee will submit a report to the Central government for clearance relating to operation of cargo services and the operations will be commenced shortly.

He said there were abundant opportunities for cargo services from the airport as rice, vegetables, fruits, coconuts, aqua, fish and coir can be transported across the world from this airport and it is centrally located between Amaravati and Visakhapatnam.

He disclosed that Airforce, Navy and Coast Guard airbase would come up in 14.7 acres on the premises of airport and it would be linked up with the runway and land acquisition process was under progress.

He stated that flight operations be increased to 22 from the existing 18 shortly and Indigo flights be operated from this month-end. "Plans are afoot to operate flight services to Shirdi, Tirupati, Mumbai, Kolkatta and from October, one flight service commences between Rajamahendravaram and Visakhapatnam," he pointed out.

Stating as many as 4.47 lakh passengers have been using the airport per year as against of 2.60 lakh passengers of last year, he said the airport was having largest runway with a length of 3.165 kms which is the largest in the state.

The airport director added Rs 150 crore worth of development works would be commenced shortly and Rs 250 crore worth of development works executed from the last three years. The development works such as expanding of existing terminal building to accommodate 1,400 passengers as against of existing 225 passengers, three aero bridges, expansion of aprons to park 11 flights from the existing parking capacity of four big and 2 small flights were executed, he stated.

Moreover, the parking places also be developed to park five 321 airbuses, four 320 airbuses, one ATR flight and one Falcon flight.

In 321 airbus 160 to 180 passengers, in 320 airbus 160 to 165 passengers can travel, he stated and added administrative building with videoconference hall and separate buildings to ATC and security wings also be constructed.