Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu launched direct air connectivity between Vijayawada and Varanasi yesterday. In a social media post, Mr. Naidu said the initiative will strengthen pilgrimage tourism between the divine shrines of Sri Kanaka Durga Amma and Baba Kashi Vishwanath. He also noted that following the inauguration of Alluri Sitarama Raju Bhogapuram Airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, work on the new airport terminals at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Kadapa is also nearing completion.