Question : Renaming of Airports

(a) whether the Government of Andhra Pradesh has sent any proposal to change the existing names of airports in Rajamahendravaram as GMC Balayogi airport and also Gannavaram airport in Vijayawada as NTR international airport;

(b) if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon;

(c) whether the Government proposes to rename existing airports as well as future Greenfield airports after cities and not personalities and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether internal deliberations have been held on this matter and a view has emerged that the names of airports should be only after cities; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the details of deliberations made in such meetings?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) & (b): The Government of Andhra Pradesh has sent proposals along with the resolutions passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on 21.03.2017 to change the existing names of Vijayawada Airport as Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao Airport, Amravathi and Tirupathi Airport as Sri Venkateswara Airport, Tirupathi respectively. Since a policy on naming / re-naming of airports is presently under deliberation in this Ministry, it has been emerged that all proposals for naming / re-naming of airports may await the finalization of the above policy. ;
;

(c) to (e): Yes, Madam. Due to lack of any firm and explicit instructions/guidelines for naming/renaming of airports in the country and considering the convenience of passengers in general and especially foreign tourists who are not familiar with the local history of the area, a view has emerged to name the airports by the name of the city in which they are located/served and the terminals of the airports after eminent personalities in honour of their memory. There will be no changes to existing airport names.