VIJAYAWADA: Chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has proposed one airport for every district in the state, besides having major airports in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati. The chief minister also asked officials to expedite works on Bhogapuram airport in Vizianagaram district and Dagadarthi airport in Nellore district.
Jagan, who reviewed the progress of works on airports and sea ports in the state with officials at his Tadepalli camp office on Thursday, wanted officials to promote one airport in every district for the convenience of people and also to attract tourists.
“The airports in every district would be able to attract investors, besides promoting exports from every district,” he said. He also told them to focus on developing basic infrastructure like connecting roads to the airports and runways inside the facilities.
Besides developing Bhogapuram and Dagadarthi airports, the chief minister directed officials to work for the expansion of Gannavaram airport. The officials apprised the chief minister of the work in progress at Tirupati, Kadapa, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Kurnool airports.
The chief minister told officials to take up on priority basis the construction works of nine fishing harbours and three ports. The officials informed him that works on Bhavanapadu and Ramayapatnam ports will begin soon, while works taken up on four fishing harbours in the first phase will be completed by October.
Of the nine fishing harbours, Uppada (East Godavari), Nizampatnam (Guntur), Machilipatnam (Krishna), and Juvvalpalem (Nellore) will be completed in the first phase, the officials said, adding that the remaining five harbours will be taken in the second phase and works would be completed within the specified timeline.
Tenders for the same will be finalised soon, they said.
In the second phase, harbours would be coming up at Budagatlapalem (Srikakulam district), Pudimadaka (Visakhapatnam), Biyyaputhippa (West Godavari), Odarevu (Prakasam) and Kothapatnam (Prakasam). Industries minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy, chief secretary Sameer Sharma, special chief secretary (industries) Karikal Valaven, CFSS CEO Ravisubhash, AP maritime board CEO K Muralidharan, AP airports development corporation advisor V N Bharath Reddy, and other officials were present at the meeting.
