The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) has given permission to extend the runway at Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada airport, to meet the growing demand of air traffic in the region.
A committee was formed by the MoEF after a proposal submitted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
PTI quoted the committee as saying, "The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), on being satisfied with the submissions of the project proponent in response to its observations, recommended the project for grant of environmental clearance and stipulated the following specific conditions along with other environmental conditions while considering for accord of environmental clearance."
Stating that the runway is proposed to be extended to 3.360 km from the existing 2.286 km, the PTI report adds that the total cost of the expansion would be nearly Rs 145 crore.
This comes two months after the central government granted international status to the Vijayawada airport.
The decision to upgrade the status of Vijayawada airport, as per the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 was taken by the Union Cabinet, whose meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May.
"The proposal will add to improved connectivity to the state capital," the Union Cabinet said in a statement.
"It will provide wider choice of services at competitive costs to the air travellers and give a boost to domestic/international tourism and socio-economic development of Andhra Pradesh by bringing in international passengers and cargo traffic," the statement added.
The international tag comes months after state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated a new terminal building at the airport.
The new terminal building at the airport, also known as Gannavaram airport, has been completed at a cost of Rs 135 crore, and has thrice the capacity of its predecessor.
IANS inputs