ÑDz©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³

The Andhra Pradesh government has set a deadline of June 2025 to complete the integrated terminal at Vijayawada International Airport, with 58.5 per cent of the construction finished so far. Notably, the project advanced by 20 per cent in the past 100 days, due to intensified efforts under the NDA government. However, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed dissatisfaction with the interior design, urging improvements to better reflect the state’s rich cultural heritage. Located in Gannavaram, Krishna district, Vijayawada International Airport serves as the only air link to Amaravati, the state’s capital city. The integrated terminal project was approved by the central government in 2018 with an initial budget of Rs 6.11 billionbut faced significant delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to multiple extensions. Furthermore, uncertainty around the potential administrative capital shift to Visakhapatnam caused a slowdown in construction from 2019 to 2024. Since assuming office in June 2024, the NDA government has prioritized speeding up the project, with Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) and Machilipatnam MP Vallabhaneni Balashowry actively monitoring progress and collaborating with project teams to adhere to deadlines. During a project review on Saturday, CM Naidu instructed officials to redesign the terminal’s interiors to showcase local art and culture. MP Kesineni Chinni stated that Vijayawada Airport is on track to become one of the busiest in the region, adding that they are committed to creating world-class infrastructure and that the terminal would highlight Andhra’s heritage, including Kondapalli Bommalu, Etikoppaka toys, and Kuchipudi dance. Additionally, the state government has plans to develop five new airstrips across Andhra Pradesh, with proposed sites in Moolapeta, Kuppam, Dagadarthi, Tadepalligudem, and Anantapuram, aiming to boost regional connectivity and economic growth.