"Visakhapatnam will be India's gateway for East and Far-East countries. Presently, Mumbai is considered the gateway of India. After the expansion of Vizag airport, this city will become the new gateway due to its strategic location," George Fernandes, the defense minister, said.
On Saturday he laid the foundation for the Rs 199 crore (Rs 1.99 billion) Visakhapatnam airport expansion project.
He informed the Visakhapatnam airport expansion project would not only help the development of this region but also cater to India's defense needs.
This is the only naval and civilian airbase and this airport will enable the navy to operate long distance surveillance aircraft, he stated.
Mainly due to this advantage, the expansion project was being provided Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) assistance, he said.
Fernandes disclosed that India would require two aircraft carriers for its defense needs. At present, the country has one aircraft carrier called INS Virat which will be decommissioned by around 2011.
The government is proposing to build an aircraft carrier itself with fully indigenous technology.
The aircraft will join the India Navy after nine years. Russia has come forward to gift one old aircraft carrier to India and this carrier will join the navy very soon, he said.
Under the expansion project, Visakhapatnam airport will have a 10,000 foot new runway, new aprons of 300 and 150 meters and air-conditioned terminal building for domestic and international passengers on a par with the Dubai and Kuala Lumpur airports, Shahnawaz Hussain, the minister for civil aviation, said on the occasion.
The project will be completed within 24 months. On completion, this airport will have a night landing facility and will accommodate bigger aircraft.
Airport Authority has taken up works at Rajahmundry and Vijayawada airports also with an investment of Rs 16 crores (Rs 160 million), the minister said.
