The growth of Visakhapatnam, the largest city in Andhra Pradesh post bifurcation, is likely to suffer a major setback if the decision to restrict the operation of civilian aircraft at Visakhapatnam International Airport for five hours a day and five days a week, is implemented.
The move will affect the schedules of most of the airlines operating out of Vizag, except the Silk Air flight to Singapore.
The shortage of aircraft is already having an impact on airline operators and when they fail to get convenient timings they may divert their operations to other airports in the country.
The airport handles about 70 aircraft movements and 35 civilian flights and around 130 military aircraft movements a day. The movements of military aircraft are expected to go up to 200 a day, according to sources.
Meet held
The decision of restricting civilian aircraft was taken at the Military-Civil coordination meeting held in the city last month. While none can dispute the strategic importance of the Navy and the training needs of its air crew, the economy of the city is equally important and it cannot be sacrificed, opine air travellers.
“A Naval Alternative Operating Base (NAOB) is already under construction at Rambilli in Visakhapatnam and an airstrip can be developed there. This apart, an airstrip at Badangi in Vizianagaram district is under development by the Navy. Airstrips can be developed at both the places in short time for the exclusive use of the Naval aircraft,” says O. Naresh Kumar, chairman of the Tours and Travel Operators of Andhra (TTOA).
The impending disruption of the existing flight schedules and the possible decline in passenger traffic will have an adverse impact on many sectors, particularly, tourism, merchandise exports, seafood and pharma exports, IT sector and the hotel industry. The hosting of conferences and major events will be hit, says D.S. Varma of AP Air Travellers Association (APATA).
National security
“The requirements of the Navy are increasing in view of the growing concerns of national security. The airline operators will be given sufficient time to reschedule their operations and I hope they will respond positively,” Visakhapatnam Member of Parliament K. Haribabu has told The Hindu when the issue has been brought to his notice.
He, however, did not rule out the possibility of some operators cancelling their flights.
APATA president Y. Sivasagar Rao plans to represent the matter to the Defence Minister.