The steering committee on Greenfield airports headed by Secretary, Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India, met and considered four new airport projects.

The committee recommended ‘in principle’ approval to 3 projects in Andhra Pradesh viz., Bhogapuram, Dagadarthi (Nellore) and Orvakallu (Kurnool). The Committee also recommended for ‘site clearance’ to the project of Kothagudem in Telengana.

The new international airport at Bhogapuram will be developed by the State Government under PPP mode at an estimated cost of Rs.2200 Crore to cater to 6.3 million passengers per annum (mppa) in the initial phase.

The other two airports in Andhra Pradesh will be developed as domestic No-Frills airports with an estimated cost of Rs.88 crores each. Dagadarthi will be developed under PPP mode whereas project at Orvakallu will be developed by State Government itself.

The Steering Committee has also recommended site clearance for the new Greenfield airport project at Kothagudem in Telangana. With this, Telangana is getting a second Greenfield airport besides Hyderabad International airport.

These clearances are expected to enhance the aviation infrastructure facilities in newly created states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and will also boost the Regional Connectivity Scheme announced recently by Government of India.