VIJAYAWADA: The inordinate delay in land acquisition has brought expansion of the Vijayawada airport at Gannavaram to a standstill. Except for a small portion, no major expansion work has been carried out even five years after launching the project.The state government entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for expansion and development of the airport.As per the MoU signed in February 2007, a modern passenger terminal building and hangars were to be built by 2009. The expansion of the runway to 10,500 ft, construction of the terminal buildings, technical buildings, air traffic control (ATC) tower, isolation bay, fire station, mechanical and electrical section, new engineering section and expansion of the apron are yet to take off.The AAI sought 491 acres of land for and survey of the land was completed but the state government is yet to release a notification for land acquisition.According to sources, the vital instrument landing system (ILS) had been installed at the airport to facilitate smooth landing and take-off of planes.But it has not become operational yet as the calibration procedures have not been completed by the AAI so far.The approval of the director-general of civil aviation (DGCA) is mandatory for commissioning the ILS after completing the calibration work. It is said that due to absence of the ILS, the morning or evening flights will be either delayed or cancelled due to low visibility. Further, the DGCA has to give its nod for operating the approach lights which have been installed on the Buddhavaram side of the airport to increase the visibility.Once the approach lights get operational, night landing of aircraft will become possible. The Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has been fighting for a long time for development of the airport, has written to the new civil aviation minister, Ajit Singh, requesting him to take appropriate steps to expedite the expansion and modernisation works in view of the multiplying number of air travellers to and from the growing city.ACCI president Muthavarapu Murali Krishna urged the AAI to plan an integrated terminal building at the airport with facilities for international flights in the near future. When contacted, airport director C Pattabhi told Express that survey for land acquisition had been completed by revenue officials and a notification needed to be released by the state government in this regard.According to revenue officials, the district administration is gearing up to acquire 433 acres of private land in three villages whereas the total requirement is 491 acres.The remaining land belongs to the government. The revenue department had sent proposals to the government for its approval to acquire 243 acres at Buddhavaram, 133 acres at Kesarapalli and 115 acres at Ajjampudi
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