PM launches work on new integrated terminal at Tirupati Airport

Prime Minister Mamohan Singh today laid the foundation stone for a new integrated terminal at the Tirupati Airport in Andhra Pradesh which, when completed, would have the capacity to handle 500 domestic and 200 international passengers during peak hours.

Dr Singh noted that, after international operations commence at the airport, pilgrims from neighbouring countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka would find it easier to visit the temple town in large numbers, contributing to its development into a major religious-cum-tourist hub.

He urged the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Tourism to work closely together to make this happen.

He said Tirupati was one of the major pilgrim centres in the country and attracted pilgrims from all over the world.

"Therefore, it is only appropriate that we are modernizing and upgrading facilities at the existing airport to provide for international operations," he said.

Dr Singh said the civil aviation sector was a key contributor to the Indian economy, which enabled other sectors to operate more efficiently.

"Many sectors of the economy which will drive our growth in the future depend critically on air transport for competing effectively in the global economy. By expanding the size of the market that can be accessed, aviation enlarges the scope to exploit economies of scale and enhances competition. It supports tourism in a big way and generates employment, both directly and indirectly," he said.

He said that, with India's fast economic development, air traffic in the country had witnessed unprecedented growth in the recent past. During the last seven years, domestic air traffic has tripled and international traffic more than doubled, he said.

The Prime Minister said the Government had continuously been making efforts to meet the growing demand for air services in the country.

"This new integrated terminal complex is a part of our efforts to continuously modernize and develop infrastructure facilities at airports all over the country, keeping in view the existing and potential traffic in a particular region," he said.

He said the Government had taken the route of public private partnerships to restructure and modernize the airports in Delhi and Mumbai.

"The recently inaugurated terminal at the Delhi Airport is truly a world class facility which the nation can be proud of. In addition, two new greenfield airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore have been developed and become operational through the joint venture route," he said.

Dr Singh said the entire investment for the new terminal at Tirupati Airport was being met through the budgetary resources of the Government of India and it was estimated that in Phase I, an amount of Rs. 174 crore would be incurred. He noted that the State Government had already handed over 293 acres of land out of the 718 acres committed for modernization and development of the airport.

NNN