AP Sanctions Rs. 50 cr to Buy Lands for Airport.

The state government has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs. 50 crore for acquiring land for the Bhogapuram International Airport, in addition to the already sanctioned amount of Rs. 110 crore for paying compensation to the land owners whose lands are being acquired for construction of the proposed airport.

Bhogapuram International Airport is a part of Bhogapuram Aerotropolis Project comprising International Airport, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and an Aviation Academy.

According to a GO issued here, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) named Bhogapuram International Airport Company Limited (BIACL) was already formed for the implementation of the project.

The BIACL has been authorized to approach commercial banks, financial institutions and infrastructure lending organizations for seeking loans to an extent of Rs. 1,500 crore related to pre-development activities for this airport project such as land acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) costs and provision of external utility infrastructure such as approach roads, water and power connection to the project site.

In fact, Bhogapuram, in Vizainagaram district is one of the four locations identified to set up Greenfield airports in the State, the other three being Kuppam in Chittoor District, Oravakallu (Kurnool District), Dagadarthi (Nellore District).

The proposed airport has been in the thick of controversy ever since the government announced its intention to construct the airport at Bhogapuram. Farmers have been expressing their opposition to parting with their lands for their project.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS