By IANS,
Hyderabad : The central government has accepted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s (YSR) proposal to utilise the old airport here for general aviation services and national and international air shows.
YSR, who is in New Delhi now, announced this while interacting with officials on the overall development of the aviation sector, said a statement issued by the chief minister’s office here Tuesday.
The statement also said an aerospace and precision engineering special economic zone (SEZ) would be set up near the new airport.
The Begumpet airport, located in the heart of the city, was closed for civil aviation March 23 this year following the new international airport commencing operations at Shamshabad, about 30 km from here.
The state government claimed that several international organisations have evinced interests in the proposal. They include Farnborough International Ltd (FIL), a subsidiary of Britain’s aerospace trade association, Aviation Development Australia Ltd, Aerospace Australia Ltd, GIFAS, the French aerospace industries association, UK Royal Air Force and Dayton-Montgomery Country Convention & Visitors’ Bureau.
Hyderabad would become India’s aviation hub with the SEZ coming up near the new airport and Begumpet airport becoming a centre for general aviation services and air shows in addition to the new international airport.
YSR wanted Hyderabad to be marketed as one of Asia’s best aviation destinations and a transit hub between Europe and China, said the statement.
The statement said aerospace industries have come together and formed Samuha Engineering Industries Ltd to promote the aerospace and precision engineering SEZ.
The SEZ, first of its kind in India, will come up at Adhibatla village near the new airport over 350 acres. Samuha and Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corp (APIIC) have entered into an agreement for the SEZ, which will provide more than 10,000 jobs.
Tatas would set up a unit to manufacture aerospace and precision engineering systems in the SEZ. Other companies which are partnering with the special purpose vehicle (SPV) are MTAR Technologies Pvt Ltd, Zetatek Industries, Anant Industries, SEC Industries, VEM Technologies and SKM Technologies.