CM Jagan Mohan Reddy lays foundation stone for new Bhogapuram Airport near Visakhapatnam

At the stone-laying event

The chief minister, appearing upbeat during the laying of the foundation stone for the airport, exuded confidence that it would transform the economy of the North Andhra districts by providing employment to lakhs of youths going forward.

భోగాపురం వద్ద రూ.4592కోట్లతో నిర్మించనున్న అంతర్జాతీయ విమానాశ్రయం నిర్మాణానికి ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ వైయస్‌.జగన్‌ శంకుస్థాపన. కార్యక్రమంలో పాల్గొన్న జీఎమ్మార్‌ అధినేత గ్రంధి మల్లికార్జునరావు. pic.twitter.com/wGwM6HI7An

— CMO Andhra Pradesh (@AndhraPradeshCM) May 3, 2023

He said, “Though the first phase of the airport is intended to serve about 60 lakh people, it has been designed to meet the travel requirements of about four crore people. The airport would have two 3.4-km-long runways, which is very rare. Even an A380 double-decker flight can land effortlessly,” he said.

He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for their help and cooperation.

Also Read: Decks cleared for Bhogapuram airport as MoCA issues NOC

Taking a dig at TDP

Taking a swipe at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for trying to steal the thunder for the event by saying that the foundation stone was already laid by N Chandrababu Naidu when he was chief minister, Jagan Mohan wondered why he could not complete it then.

He quipped, “After we took over, we have worked assiduously to get all clearances and, now, the decks are clear for the commencement of the works. Naidu used to lay foundation stones for projects on the eve of the elections and forget about them. Now, when we get all clearances, including one for a four-lane road to the airport from Visakhapatnam, the TDP is trying to play down the achievement.”

Taunting the TDP, he said, “I am laying the foundation stone now for the airport and I am sure, with your blessings and God’s grace, I will be inaugurating the airport in 2026,” implying that he was sure to win the Assembly elections next year.

Also Read: Rajinikanth under attack from YSRCP for ‘Naidu praise’

“We have settled all cases in the Supreme Court, the high court, and the NGT (National Green Tribunal). We are beginning the works,” he said.

ఎయిర్‌పోర్టుకు శంకుస్థాపన అంటే.. విమర్శలు చేస్తున్నారు. గత ప్రభుత్వం హయాంలో అంతా సవ్యంగా ఉంటే ఎందుకు పనులు ప్రారంభంకాలేదు? సుప్రీంకోర్టు, హైకోర్టు, ఎన్జీటీల్లో కేసులన్నీ పరిష్కరించుకోగలిగాం. భూ సేకరణ పూర్తిచేశాం. నిర్వాసితులకు ఇళ్లు కట్టాం. టెండర్లు పూర్తిచేశాం: సీఎం pic.twitter.com/9T7EyOAyTm

— CMO Andhra Pradesh (@AndhraPradeshCM) May 3, 2023

‘Happy with work done in the last 47 months’

The chief minister, further needling the TDP, said that, come September, he would be living in Visakhapatnam with his family, driving home the point that he has not backed down from his plan of decentralisation of the state capital, with the administrative capital to be located at the port city.

He said that he was committed to the development of the North Andhra districts and recalled the drinking water scheme taken up, at an investment of ₹500 crore, to be dedicated to the people of Srikakulam.

He said that he was extremely happy with the work that he has done in the last 47 months. The people have seen the difference between the rule now and that of Naidu, he added.

“Naidu does not have anything to show if one asks what he had done for the people during his long career as the chief minister of both combined Andhra Pradesh and reorganised AP,” Jagan Mohan quipped.

Also Read: Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan declares Visakhapatnam as capital

‘No-palm greasing, money went to bank accounts’

He said that he was happy to record that in his four years of rule, he has distributed ₹2.10 lakh crore to deserving families in the state by transferring the amounts to their bank accounts.

“No need to grease palms of anyone. The money goes directly into their accounts. The people are aware of what I have done. I can stand before the doors of the 1.50 crore families in the state and ask them to support me because of what I have done for them,” he said.

He said that the hallmark of Naidu’s rule was to rob the people. He (Naidu) and his cohorts depended on two publications, one TV channel, and Naidu’a “adopted son — implying film actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan — to come back to power.

“I have the necessary moral heft to seek the support of the people because I have implemented 98.5 percent of the promises made in the party’s manifesto. For the TDP, its manifesto is trash paper that they can tear into pieces and throw in the gutter after the elections are over. But for us, it is the Bhagvad Gita, Bible, and Koran,” he said.

Also Read: BJP in dilemma over high command silence on Naidu overture

About Bhogapuram airport

During the Global Investors Summit in March, it was announced that the GMR Group would invest ₹5,000 crore in the first phase of the development of the airport, which would serve six million passengers annually.

“Building a world-class international airport at Bhogapuram with the best cargo operations and aero city features will catalyse airport-led economic development in Andhra Pradesh on the lines of Delhi and Hyderabad,” said GM Rao, Group Chairman of GMR Group.

Rao added, “We will build Bhogapuram airport with the same standards as we built Hyderabad (airport). We have designed this airport taking our culture and traditions into account. We will construct it in three years and operate,” Rao said at the event, via video conferencing.

Following the recent opening of Goa airport, Rao said that the Bhogapuram was the 12th airport for the GMR Group, which is a major player in the infrastructure, airports, energy, transportation and urban projects sectors in India and overseas.

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(With PTI inputs)