Cabinet approves Vijayawada Airport as international airport

New Delhi [India], May 3 (ANI): The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the declaration of Vijayawada Airport as international airport, as per the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The proposal will add to improved connectivity to the State capital. It will provide a wider choice of services at competitive costs to the air-travelers and give a boost to domestic and international tourism and ensure the socio-economic development of Andhra Pradesh by bringing in international passengers and cargo traffic. The declaration of Vijayawada Airport as an international airport has been taken up keeping in view the passenger traffic growth, demands from airlines and the Andhra Pradesh Government. The Airports Authority of India has undertaken upgradation of requisite infrastructure and facilities for international operations. The move follows the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, after which the capital Hyderabad, as well as the state's lone international airport situated in the city, were transferred to the new state of Telangana. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which bifurcated the state into Telangana and residual Andhra Pradesh, provided that the Centre must "examine the feasibility of expanding the existing Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati airports to international standards and take an expeditious decision thereon." (ANI)