Vizianagaram: Land acquisition for Bhogapuram airport picks up

Vizianagaram: The district administration has speeded up land acquisition for the Bhogapuram international green field airport.

The GMR Airports will construct and operate the airport. On the instructions of the State government, the district administration has begun the process of land acquisition to complete the construction of airport at the earliest.

The government has issued a notification to acquire 2,700 acres for the project and 2,200 acres will be handed over to GMR Airports Limited to develop the airport. The 500acre land will be under the control of the State government and it is expected to be used for establishing allied industries.

Meanwhile, some farmers Bhogapuram and Polipalli villages have already approached the High Court to stall the project. The YSRCP opposed the project when it was in opposition and filed a petition in the High Court.

The officials are examining the legal hurdles in the way of acquiring the land for the project. The Revenue officials concerned have directed to identify the notified lands and acquire them without delay.

Joint Collector G C Kishore said, "We are in the process of acquiring land. Legal hurdles should be cleared. Some pending works also should be completed soon. We are working on a war-footing."