The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Double whammy for AAI

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Sunday, Mar 09, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Double whammy for AAI

M. Srinivas

It will lose 45 acres and also Rs.20 crore paid for shifting of hutments

Many bird-hit cases reported on runway
‘Residents can now expect more facilities’

- Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Breather: Slum dwellers of Annanagar get a relief with the shifting of Begumpet airport to Shamshabad.

HYDERABAD: It’s a double whammy of sorts for the Airports Authority of India (AAI) with the shifting of air operations to Shamshabad within a week. However, for over 40,000 slum-dwellers of Annanagar, abutting the Begumpet airport runway, it’s a big relief.

The AAI is not only losing 45 acres of prime land in which scores of slum dwellers are residing, but is also incurring a loss of Rs. 20 crore, paid to the then TDP government. Apparently, the amount was paid to shift the hutments from Annanagar to Kukatpally to expand the airport.

Narrow escape

Another reason is that several bird-hit cases were reported on the runway following unhygienic conditions in this area. In a few instances, passengers had a narrow escape after their flight were hit by birds while landing or taking-off on the runway.

“We are bearing the brunt for no fault of ours. The AAI is losing the land and also crores of rupees paid to the State government a few years ago,” said convenor for Airports Authority Employees’ Union V.S. Gupta. Airport’s land was also encroached at Chinna Tokatta near Bowenpally and Balanagar.

As the date of inauguration of new airport is drawing near, residents of Annanagar are elated lot.

For the last 60 years, they have been staying without proper amenities on the pretext that it was an encroached site. “It’s a great relief for us. Residents can now expect more facilities in our area as chances of shifting us to Kukatpally are almost remote,” said Ramesh, a local BJP leader.

Gleam lost

Secunderabad Cantonment legislator G. Sayanna, however, felt that shifting of air operations to Shamshabad would reduce the gleam of the city. “Whether the airport is shifted or not, slum dwellers from Annanagar will not be shifted from here at any cost,” he added.

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