Kadapa airport

The long-abandoned air strip in Kadapa that has been given a facelift and developed into an airport will be brought into operation in a week.

Arrangements are being made for the inauguration of Kadapa airport by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on October 14. Union Minister for Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju will take part in the inauguration.

History
Kadapa aerodrome was constructed in 1953 on a 229-acre site. Vayudoot operated services from Kadapa to Hyderabad in the 1980s. The aerodrome built on a 229-acre stretch was subsequently used by Chief Ministers for making transit halt of the Government helicopters and for refuelling.

About 15 light and microlight aircraft and helicopters landed in Kadapa aerodrome and took off in Air Race India Show organised by Aeronautical Society of India in 2003, as a prelude to the first centenary of aviation history created on December 17, 1903, when the Wright Brothers flew the first-ever powered flight. It was an enthralling experience for the massive audience to watch light and microlight aircraft and helicopters land and take off over a three-hour period, 11 years ago.

The YSR government had entered into a MoU in March 2007 for developing the aerodrome into an airport and allocated an additional 440 acres, located about 10 km from Kadapa town.

In accordance with the MoU, the government had offered to supply drinking water and power free of cost for five years.

It also granted property tax exemption for land used for the airport, navigation and related purposes and the airport staff colony, besides granting exemption from Kadapa Municipal Corporation taxes.

Under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, a new two km. Runway was completed at a cost of Rs. 21 crore.

In addition, a 11-km long compound wall was constructed with an outlay of Rs. 24 crore. In the second phase, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) building, passenger terminal, parking bays and internal roads were built at a cost of Rs. 13 crore.

Officials are holding discussions with some air travel agencies such as Spice Jet.

Mega food park may come up in Kadapa

A mega food park is likely to come up in Kadapa district with a grant of Rs. 50 crore from the State and Central governments, District Collector K.V. Ramana said on Saturday.
The government will extend sops such as power supply at concessional rates, VAT and stamp duty concessions for young entrepreneurs coming forward to set up food processing units in the district, the Collector said at a district-level workshop on food processing units. Revenue officials will identify lands on lease at nominal prices, he added.
Mr. Ramana asked entrepreneurs to gain awareness about industrial units, marketing and export of products by visiting the existing units. Details of food processing units and the requisite machinery are available on the government’s website, he said.
District Industries Centre General Manager G. Gopal said farmers should be aware of agricultural practices and marketing of their produce to get remunerative prices. “Farmers should come forward to set up food processing units with the help of Horticulture and Animal Husbandry departments,” he added.
Lead District Manager Raghunatha Reddy said food processing units would generate employment. Maintaining that rural youth should be enlightened on food processing units, he promised loan assistance from banks for setting up fresh units. “Qualitative products will fetch revenue, and units should not be set up merely for utilising subsidy,” he added.
Joint Director of Agriculture Gnanasekhar said farmers should market their agricultural produce to earn profit.
AP Food Processing Society member Srinivasa Rao told farmers to cultivate crops based on market demand. Another member, Raju, said Kadapa district had very few industries but was exporting horticulture produce to other districts.
He suggested formation of groups to set up agriculture and horticulture-based units.
AP Micro-Irrigation Project Director Srinivas, Krishi Vignana Kendra scientist Swarnalatha and Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Satya Prakash also spoke.

From The Hindu daily