Plans are on for seven new airports in the state
Hyderabad, July 9, 2007The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has requested the Andhra Pradesh Government to exempt from paying property tax in the proposed seven-non metro airports till they become economically viable. The AAI also sought exemption from payment of charges towards police guards at the said non-metro airports on the lines of the neighboring States of Karnataka and Puducherry.
The airports are to come at Ramagundam, Kothagudem, Nellore, Ongole, Tadepalligudem, Nizamabad and Kurnool. The Civil Aviation Ministry has decided that all non metro airports will be maintained and operated by the AAI.
As AAI incurring huge losses, paying property tax and charges for guards provided by the State police would result in the operations becoming totally inviable at some point of time. In addition, the AAI is allowing certain concessions to airline operators using smaller airports like full waiver of landing charges and 50 percent discount in parking charges for night landing. These concessions are also adding to AAI's losses but the later has decided o bear them to accelerate the air traffic from smaller cities according to sources.
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