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AP to construct 300 helipads

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to construct helipads in 300 important towns and cities in the state. The facility will be extended to all the 1,100 mandal headquarters depending on the requirement.

Disclosing this at a review meeting on the progress of airports and port projects in the state on Tuesday, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu said that the construction of a helipad would cost only around Rs 10,000 and the funds would be provided by the state government for the purpose.

He said that the existing airfields at Cuddapah, Rajahmundry, Adilabad and Warangal would be developed into airports by constructing the required buildings and providing necessary facilities. An airport would be constructed near Krishnapatnam to meet the needs of the people of Prakasam and Nellore districts.

He said that plans for integrating the operations of the existing airports, including the one at Puttaparthi, would be formulated so as to make air travel available within 200 kilometres from any place in the state. He said that the airstrip at Nagarjunasagar would be developed to attract tourist traffic.

Reviewing the progress of sea ports in the state, Chandrababu Naidu said that steps would be initiated for acquisition of 1,100 acres of land from Visakhapatnam Steel Plant for the development of Gangavaram port. He said that feasibility reports would be prepared for the development of other minor ports.

He said that the promoters for the development of Vodarevu port in the private sector have been told to draw up a time-table for the completion of the project. He said that the development of Kakinada port would be expedited so that the town could handle traffic on par with Visakhapatnam in the next five years.

Chandrababu Naidu said that 10,000 acres of land has been acquired for setting up a mega industrial park in Krishnapatnam. Steps would be initiated to develop the industrial hub with all the required facilities in the vicinity.

UNI

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