Hyderabad/Tirupati: Though in its initial stages, the international airport coming up near Renigunta in Tirupati could take the shape of ‘Garuda’, the bird king, which also happens to be the favourite vehicle of Lord Venkateshwara.

“The authorities are mulling designing the airport like a Garuda bird for easy taxiing and take-off of aircraft. An airport in Brazil is modelled on similar lines,” a source said. ”More than the logistics, the Garuda bird has a sentimental value with the Lord as the legend has it that the Lord used to travel on Garuda Pakshi (bird),” a TTD official said.

 

Officials said the authorities have drawn an estimation of Rs 2,000 crore for the airport expansion project. An amount of Rs 120 crore has been allotted for the first phase which would be completed in two years. The total expansion project would be completed in seven years.

 

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought from the state government 736 acres of land near Renigunta for carrying out works like runway expansion, building a new terminal, hangars, repair sheds and fuel storage house and other facilities.

 

Stating that it is too early to specify the details of the airport expansion plans, a top official said the AAI authorities have initiated talks with the state government on the allotment of the land. Meanwhile, it is learnt that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would lay the foundation stone for the airport in December.