New Amaravati airport: Min for land acquisition

Vijayawada: Asserting that a new airport is required in the capital city Amaravati to boost its development, municipal administration minister P Narayana has said that govt will go for land acquisition option if people were not willing to part with their land under the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS). He said that migration of people to the capital city is necessary to sustain development in the capital city.

Narayana inspected the arrangements made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on Thursday. Speaking to the media, Narayana said that Hyderabad got its second airport despite having one airport in Begumpet.

"The new airport in Shamshabad did the trick for Hyderabad in taking its development to new horizons. Hyderabad would not have handled even 10 percent of the existing flight traffic had it confined to Begumpet airport. Similarly, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu wanted the new international airport in the capital city which can push its growth multifold," said Narayana.

The minister said that CM Naidu is building the capital city for next 100 years and people would realise its impact very soon. He said that they have been discussing with the local public representatives about the LPS proposal for airport and waiting for response from the people.

"Our legislators wanted govt to extend the LPS to new areas to ensure better benefits to the farmers. Govt might think about going for enforcement of Land Acquisition Act in case farmers are not willing to join the LPS," said Narayana, adding that the govt is only thinking about sustaining the development in Amaravati.

"Bringing people to Amaravati to permanently reside is key for its growth. Land values will remain stable only when people reside there. We are planning all the projects keeping in view of the farmers' interests," said Narayana. He said that the land values will crash down if the capital city did not have projected population. He said that development will be accelerated with the smart industries which could be attracted with an airport.

Referring to the preparation ahead of the PM's visit, Narayana said that 90 percent of the arrangements have been completed. He said that all the major projects in Amaravati will resume on May 2 with PM laying the foundation stone. He said that they have identified the roads required to reach the assembly venue. "We have identified 11 parking areas and eight roads. We are making arrangements in anticipation of about five lakh turnout," the minister said.

Narayana asserted that LPS farmers would be felicitated in the presence of PM Modi. He said that they were setting up three stages at the venue. While the PM and chief minister will take the main dais, ministers and other VIPs will be seated in the second dais. The LPS farmers will be seated in another dais.