Tirupati airport runway expansion work takes off.

The Tirupati airport is all set to become an alternative to the crowded Chennai and Bengaluru airports, given the fast-tracked developments taking place at the facility.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra, during his visit to the airport on Sunday, saw a huge potential in the airport to serve as an alternative to the two metropolitan cities, to ease out air traffic congestion there or in case of an emergency to shift traffic to the nearby airports. For this to happen, the runway has to be extended from the current 2,286 metres to 3,810 metres, besides construction of a new apron to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft, which is expected to be completed by February 2020.

The expansion project is on at an estimated outlay of ₹177 crore.

Mr. Mohapatra formally switched on the batch mix plant and signalled the launch of construction activities for the runway extension work.Earlier, he inspected the integrated terminal building and appreciated Airport Director H. Pulla for the cleanliness.

He said all facilities required for international operations were currently available at the airport.

He took part in a tree plantation drive undertaken as part of Swachh Bharat Mission and also visited ‘Akshaya Kshetram’, a home for the differently-abled, where he distributed sweets and clothes to the inmates.

THE HINDU