VIJAYAWADA: The runway expansion works at Gannavaram Airport are likely to get delayed due to villagers’ unwillingness to rehabilitate from the land allocated to the airport. They have even turned down plots offered to them by the State government in Amaravati under Land Pooling Scheme. In this regard, Krishna district collector B Lakshmikantham has instructed officials to resettle and rehabilitate the people.
According to the proposal, the runway is going to be extended by 1,074 metres.
The works, which were supposed to be complete by November, are now likely to be complete by December if the families vacate the nearby land. Speaking to TNIE, G Madhusudhan Rao, Director of Vijayawada Airport, said, “There are 70-80 families living in the land that were given to the airport. Though the government has assured them that they will be given plots in the capital region, some are not willing to give up their houses.
Now, the district administration is going to provide houses to them elsewhere. Once they vacate the land, we will construct a boundary wall and continue with the airport development works. The rehabilitation process might take three to six months. We are continuing with the runway expansion works, but we can use the runway only after people are rehabilitated.”