Chartered flights need prior nod at Renigunta

Tirupati: Prior permission is must for landing of any charter flight or helicopter in Renigunta international airport after the model code of conduct came into force, said district collector and district election officer PS Pradyumna. Pradyumna held a meeting with the airport authorities here on Thursday on the implementation of the model code of conduct.

The district election officer said that the permission has to be obtained three days before for charter flight or helicopter landing. Further, the checking of every luggage is also a must in the airport as per the model code of conduct, he said adding that any cash more than Rs 50,000 will not be permitted.

If any cash more than Rs 50,000 is found during the checking, it would be seized by the airport authorities for handing it over to the election officer concerned. In this case the election officer of Sri Kalahasti constituency under which Renigunta airport comes, the collector said while seeking the airport authorities strictly adhere to the model code while checking the passengers and luggage in the airport.

Hitherto even if cash more than Rs 50,000 found in the checking, the authorities allowed it but in view of the model code, carrying cash up to Rs 50,000 is only permitted now, he explained.

Airport director M Sivaraju said that that a meeting of the airport personnel, including security and airlines, was also held following the instruction from Director General of Civil Aviation explaining the model code of conduct and alerting them on the strict adherence of the code of conduct in the international airport.

District election officer P S Pradyumna later speaking to media urged the general public to avoid carrying cash of more than Rs 50,000 even for emergency purposes in view of the code of conduct. If any cash more

than Rs 50000 found in the checking any here in the district will be handed over to the concerned election officer for enquiry, he said while adding that if seized cash is more than Rs 10 lakh it would be straight away handed over to Income Tax officials. An FIR will also be filed immediately after the seizure of cash if it is above Rs 10 lakh.

Pradyumna made it clear that the public should opt any of the online transactions available for cash transfer and in view of the model code of conduct avoid carrying cash more than the permitted limit i.e. Rs 50,000, even for emergency purposes, till the elections are over.

Renigunta airport senior officials including DC Sukla (CISF), I Babidorai (senior manager Terminal), airport chief security officer K Rajasekhar Reddy, election officials of Srikalahasthi, Tirupati and Chandragiri were also present.