The long-abandoned air strip in Kadapa that has been given a facelift and developed into an airport will be brought into operation in a week.
Arrangements are being made for the inauguration of Kadapa airport by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on October 14. Union Minister for Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju will take part in the inauguration.
History
Kadapa aerodrome was constructed in 1953 on a 229-acre site. Vayudoot operated services from Kadapa to Hyderabad in the 1980s. The aerodrome built on a 229-acre stretch was subsequently used by Chief Ministers for making transit halt of the Government helicopters and for refuelling.
Kadapa aerodrome was constructed in 1953 on a 229-acre site. Vayudoot operated services from Kadapa to Hyderabad in the 1980s. The aerodrome built on a 229-acre stretch was subsequently used by Chief Ministers for making transit halt of the Government helicopters and for refuelling.
About 15 light and microlight aircraft and helicopters landed in Kadapa aerodrome and took off in Air Race India Show organised by Aeronautical Society of India in 2003, as a prelude to the first centenary of aviation history created on December 17, 1903, when the Wright Brothers flew the first-ever powered flight. It was an enthralling experience for the massive audience to watch light and microlight aircraft and helicopters land and take off over a three-hour period, 11 years ago.
The YSR government had entered into a MoU in March 2007 for developing the aerodrome into an airport and allocated an additional 440 acres, located about 10 km from Kadapa town.
In accordance with the MoU, the government had offered to supply drinking water and power free of cost for five years.
It also granted property tax exemption for land used for the airport, navigation and related purposes and the airport staff colony, besides granting exemption from Kadapa Municipal Corporation taxes.
Under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, a new two km. Runway was completed at a cost of Rs. 21 crore.
In addition, a 11-km long compound wall was constructed with an outlay of Rs. 24 crore. In the second phase, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) building, passenger terminal, parking bays and internal roads were built at a cost of Rs. 13 crore.
Officials are holding discussions with some air travel agencies such as Spice Jet.
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