Locals back Sileru seaplane aerodrome, seek jobs and road development

Visakhapatnam: The residents of Sileru village in G K Veedhi mandal in ASR district have given a green signal for the construction of a water aerodrome in the Sileru River for seaplane services at Sileru. While extending their consent for the project, locals demanded employment opportunities for tribal youth and the development of roads. Around 50 local youth are expected to get jobs through a gram panchayat resolution.For context, the state government has proposed nine locations across Andhra Pradesh for commercial seaplane services to boost tourism and connectivity, following a successful trial run from Prakasam Barrage to Srisailam in November 2024. Sileru is one of the proposed locations. Other sites include Amaravati, Visakhapatnam, Gandikota and Tirupati, with water aerodromes to be developed under the PPP mode as part of the UDAN–RCS initiative.MPTC member P Samba Murthy, sarpanch Durdo and tribal leaders said they had no objection to the aerodrome project but insisted that priority be given to local employment. They also stressed that to promote tourism, a road from RV Nagar to Palagedda must be developed, failing which tourists would not be able to access the area. At the public hearing held at Sileru, ITDA project officer Tirumani Pooja said local youth would be provided employment once the water aerodrome is constructed. She stated that employment would be given to 50 youths with the requisite qualifications if the gram panchayat passed a resolution to that effect. Of these, 15 would be appointed as security guards, 11 in fire and patrolling wings, and the rest in various other departments. The selected candidates would be provided skill training.She further said that the construction of the 15-km main road leading to the aerodrome would be taken up by the project contractor.Environment engineer B B Sarita, K Venkateswara Rao, GK Veedhi tahsildar Annaji Rao, AP Genco SE Zakir Hussain, EE Balakrishna and others attended the public hearing.