VISAKHAPATNAM: Air Travellers Association (India) president D Varada Reddy, in a release on Friday, said that three qualified bidders for the Bhogapuram International Airport Limited (BIAL) - GVK, GMR and Airports Authority of India- categorically stated that the Bhogapuram airport was not viable unless the passenger loads touched 2.5 million per annum.
A total of eight bidders participated in the bid for the development of infrastructure and greenfield international airport. Of the total, three bidders were qualified.
The AAI could not also participate for the non-viability factor. ATA(I) has repeatedly been stating that Bhogapuram Greenfield Airport is neither feasible nor viable and the statements of the bidders reiterate ATA(I)’s belief, Varada Reddy said.
The Andhra Pradesh government was planning to build castles in the air without even having the basic seed money or land and clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.It should give up acquisition of land and the unviable plan of building greenfield airport and let people of that area live in peace and allow them the food and social security, Varada Reddy said.