Notwithstanding the opposition from the Bhogapuram farmers to the Greenfield airport proposed to be set up in their lands, Andhra Pradesh government is hell bent on going ahead on the project. Bhogapuram (Vizainagaram district) is one of the four locations identified to set up Greenfield airports in the state, the other three being Kuppam (Chittoor District), Oravakallu (Kurnool District), Dagadarthi (Nellore District). Opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy also visited the area to interact with farmers who are set to lose lands. As this is the international airport, the government has put in on the fast track.

On Wednesday state government accorded permission to the special purpose vehicle SPV) , constituted for Bhogapuram International Airport Company Ltd., (BIACL)to submit proposals to Commercial Bankers to seek a loan to the tune of Rs.1500 crore to meet the costs towards pre-development activities such as land acquisition, R&R, community activities (as per the estimates by the Collector, Vizianagaram) and also provision of external utility infrastructure such as approach roads, water / power connection etc., to the Project site.

The SPV has been set up for speedy implementation of Bhogapuram Aerotropolis Project comprising International Airport, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and an Aviation Academy. The government has also permitted the SPV to take space for officer in Visakhapatnam town.

What is interesting is the appointment of IAS officer Ajay as the chairman and Managing director of SPV. He is already secretary to Energy department and department of Investment and Infrastructure. He is also in-charge secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development with special reference to Capital Region Development Authority. In that capacity he also heads the CRDA executive committee. By all these appointments, one can easily access the influence the 1991 batch officer commands in the TDP government.