Visakhapatnam: The state government's proposal to set up a greenfield airport in the city seems to have run into turbulence. Confusion prevails over the likely location of the new airport as most of the touted sites, like the Atchyutapuram-S Rayavaram belt and Bheemili in the district as well as Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, have been practically ruled out due to various reasons.
While the Indian Navy has already objected to a new airport near Atchyutapuram-S Rayavaram as it is uncomfortably close to its upcoming strategic Naval Alternative Operations Base (NAOB) at Rambilli and can pose a security threat, Bhogapuram also looks highly unlikely as the Navy has a major chunk of land for its additional ammunition storage point -- INS Kalinga -- there. In fact, when the committee appointed by the Centre to examine possible sites for a new airport visited Bhogapuram recently, it found the site inadequate, as around 1,000 acres belong to the Navy and nearly 1,500 acres of government land is in the possession of farmers. A full-fledged international airport requires at least 4,000-5000 acres.
21/08/14 Times of India
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While the Indian Navy has already objected to a new airport near Atchyutapuram-S Rayavaram as it is uncomfortably close to its upcoming strategic Naval Alternative Operations Base (NAOB) at Rambilli and can pose a security threat, Bhogapuram also looks highly unlikely as the Navy has a major chunk of land for its additional ammunition storage point -- INS Kalinga -- there. In fact, when the committee appointed by the Centre to examine possible sites for a new airport visited Bhogapuram recently, it found the site inadequate, as around 1,000 acres belong to the Navy and nearly 1,500 acres of government land is in the possession of farmers. A full-fledged international airport requires at least 4,000-5000 acres.
21/08/14 Times of India
