Dedicate Vizag airport to civilian flights

Visakhapatnam: The Vizag Development Council (VDC), Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (APCCI), Andhra Pradesh Air Travelers Association (APATA) and Andhra Pradesh Tours and Travelers Association (APTTA) on Friday suggested to the Central and State governments to dedicate the present Visakhapatnma Airport (INS Dega) for civilian flights. 

The bodies said that there will be multiple benefits to both civilians and defence people, if the present airport is dedicated for the civilian aircraft. Suggestion for ideal location of the civil airport in Visakhapatnam, the VDC and other associations said that Navy can use the entire 2,000 acres acquired for the new civilian airport at Bhogapuram, which is closer to INS Kalinga, a naval establishment located on Visakhapatnam-Bheemili Beach Road. 

The Navy can also build another new runway at Rambilli, where an alternative naval base being built up in Visakhapatnam in an extent of 5,000 acres. The Navy is also proposing to develop a new strategic air force base in Bobbili in Vizianagaram district in 3,000 acres.

It is also safe to the city during the war, if the Navy leaves the present airport for civilian aircraft. The airstrip being almost in the heart of the city, vulnerability of the city during the war time will be very high, they opined.

Meanwhile, explaining about the logistics and benefits if the present airport developed as a world class airport, the associations said that two hours of time will be saved per each flyer which could be turned into much precious productive time. If the airport developed into civil airport, each passenger can save Rs 2,000 per a round trip to Bhogapuram which is 60 km from the present airport.

The present airport is holding a total of 1,250 acres in which civilian airport is using just 350 acres while the Navy is using 900 acres. The present airport is presently handling 2.5 million passengers per year, if the entire land developed for civilian flights, the airport can handle over 30 million passengers per year and it will solve the expansion needs till 2050, VDC, APCCI, APATA APTTA suggested to the governments.