HYDERABAD: Six airports will be developed in the tier-II towns of Andhra Pradesh jointly by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the State Government. Construction of two of these airports — Kadapa and Warangal — will be completed within two years and their commercial operation will begin by December 2007.

A memorandum of understanding for the development of these two airports will be signed between the two implementing agencies in the first week of February.

Simultaneously, techno-economic feasibility for Greenfield airports at Nellore, Ongole, Ramagundam and Tadepalligudem will be taken up by them through the Investment and Infrastructure Department.

These decisions were taken at a meeting convened by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy with officials of the infrastructure-related departments.

This apart, expansion of airports at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Tirupati and Puttaparti will be taken up. Kingfisher Airlines will commence its operation to Puttaparti on January 22.

In Visakhapatnam, a new runway is built while the re-carpeting of the existing runway and night landing facility, including installation of instrument landing systems, will be completed by the month-end.

The calibration aircraft will test these facilities on February 15.

The State Government released its share of funds for the development of this airport.

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