RAJAHMUNDRY: East and West Godavari districts are set to have better air connectivity to major cities in the country soon as several airlines have evinced interest to introduce new flight services from Rajahmundry.
Kingfisher Airlines which is launching a flight service from Chennai to Rajahmundry on March 27, has already started advance booking of tickets.
The flight comes to Rajahmundry directly from Chennai. In return direction, it goes via Gannavaram. The timings of new flight service are yet to be finalised.
The ticket (Chennai-Rajahmundry) is priced at Rs 3,333. The air fare from Gannavaram to Chennai is Rs 2,000. The air fare is likely to be revised. At present Kingfisher and Jet Airways are operating one flight each between Hyderabad and Rajahmundry everyday. The aircraft has a seating capacity of 72.
Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has completed development works at the airport in Rajahmundry at a cost of Rs 48 crore.
The development works included a new terminal, booking counters, VIP lounge, air traffic control tower, police station and new roads.
The length of existing runway is 748 metres. At present, only two aircraft can be parked in the airport.
The state government had already signed a memorandum of understanding with the AAI for further development of the airport.
The government is likely to allot 999 acres of land free of cost to the AAI for the development of the airport. Now, the airport is located in 366 acres.
The number of air passengers from Rajahmundry is likely to go up with the introduction of new flight services and development of night landing facility for aircraft.
The AAI has selected the hilltop of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Korukonda to erect a light tower as part of development of night landing facility at the airport.
According to the AAI authorities, the temple management has refused to give permission for erection of a light tower on the hilltop. The light tower is estimated to cost Rs 4 lakh.
When contacted, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple executive officer K Ramchandra Mohan said they rejected the proposal of
AAI for erection of a light tower on the hilltop.
As per rules, the district collector is only empowered to give permission for erection of a light tower on endowments land. The proposal was sent to the district collector for a final approval, he said.
The introduction of new flight services from Rajahmundry to major cities will be more convenient to executives of major oil companies overseeing oil and gas exploration in East Godavari district.