New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the allotment of 1,800 sqm of Airports Authority of India's (AAI) land to Andhra Pradesh Education & Welfare Infrastructure Development Corporation (APEWIDC) for the construction of a VIP lounge at Tirupati airport. The government has allotted the land to APEWIDC for a period of 15 years at a nominal rate of a license fee of Re 1/- per annum, a press release from the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
Tirupati is an abode of Lord Sri Venkateswara. The temple sits atop one of the seven peaks of Tirumala Hills, attracting scores of Hindu pilgrims. Sri Venkateswara National Park, home to the temple, also contains the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park with lions and primates. Next to a waterfall and cave believed to be sacred, Sri Kapileswara Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Every year a number of VIPs and VVIPs visit Tirupati.
The construction of a VIP lounge at Tirupati airport will offer better amenities to the visitors. The lounge will be maintained by APEWIDC.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI), a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.
AAI manages 125 airports, which include 18 international airports, seven customs airports, 78 domestic airports and 26 civil enclaves at defence airfields.