Plan to build Kuppam airport in two phases

CM moots setting up of aviation university and training centre in State, besides developing seven new airports

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Vijayawada

CHIEF Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said emphasis should be laid on setting up an aviation university and a training centre in the State, besides developing seven new airports in addition to the existing seven.

Foreseeing demand for parking of private flights in airports in the future, he directed officials to construct the new airports by taking into consideration all the aspects.

Holding a review meeting, along with Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, at his Undavalli residence on Friday, he took stock of the expansion of the existing airports, besides constructing the new ones.

Naidu focused on construction of the international airport at Bhogapuram. While the Airports Authority of India is managing Gannavaram, Rajahmundry, Tirupati and Kadapa airports, the State government is overseeing the maintenance of Kurnool airport. Puttaparthi is only a private airstrip.