VISAKHAPATNAM: International airconnectivity, the long standing demand of the people of Visakhapatnam and surrounding districts, s..
VISAKHAPATNAM: International airconnectivity, the long standing demand of the people of Visakhapatnam and surrounding districts, still remains a dream as Vizag airport awaits the nod from the Union Ministry of Defence for international status despite the fact that airlines are ready to operate flights from the port city.
Union Minister of State for HRD Daggubati Purandeswari told Express that the Defence Ministry has told airline operators that they can operate international flights from Visakhapatnam. But the airlines are asking for a written assurance so that they could deploy necessary personnel to operate international flights. "They are asking for written assurance. The Defence Ministry is saying operate flights from the airport and we will deploy our men. This is the status on the longpending issue," Purandeswari said.
Vizag airport, which is under the control of the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command (ENC), handles 42 flights to destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Tirupati everyday. The domestic services cater to the needs of the North Coastal districts and the neighbouring parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Though international air lines like Air Arabia, Fly Dubai and Silk Airways want to operate international services from Visakapatnam, international air connectivity is yet to take off in absence of Indian Navy's approval. The Navy says it does not have sufficient skilled personnel for air traffic control operations. Currently, around 100 personnel man the Vizag airport under the Navy's INS Dega establishment. They say they need another 320 trained staff for night landing activity.Andhra Pradesh is the only state in South India having only one international airport, in Hyderabad, while smaller states Karnataka and Kerala have more than one international airport.
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