Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati

Global connectivity to Tirupati

TIRUPATI: As follow-up of the Central government upgrading Tirupati airport as an international airport, four international air services are proposed to be introduced to begin with, linking Tirupati with New York, London, Dubai and Singapore. This will be in addition to the flights to be introduced connecting the airport with the major cities of the country to cater to the needs of the domestic sector.

According to Tirupati MP Chintha Mohan (Congress), Air India has agreed in principle to operate the international services possibly from March next. He said that in the meantime steps would be initiated by the Airports Authority of India to expand and refurbish the existing terminal and provide other logistics and counters to match the conferment of international status on Tirupati airport which began its operations in 1972, handling small aircraft and feeder services.

At a press conference here on Monday, the MP said that the Prime Minister has tentatively agreed to lay the foundation stone for terminals and to formally commission the Tirupati ‘international’ airport sometime in December-January.

He said the Airports Authority of India required in all about 735 acres additionally around the airport to take up the airport expansion work and pointed out that the District Collector has agreed to initiate the necessary land acquisition proceedings soon. Tirupati Legislator (Congress), M. Venkatramana, who also participated in the press meet, said that the State government from its side would take up the necessary works to correspondingly improve the infrastructure facilities and other logistics in and around the temple city to match the international status conferred on its airport.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu