Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu announced at a landmark event that the much-awaited greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram will be operational by June 2026, which was originally scheduled to be completed in December 2026.
The airport is located around 50 km from Visakhapatnam. GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), a 100 percent subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited (GAL), is the concessionaire for the development and operation of the Bhogapuram airport.
The foundation stone for this ambitious Rs 4,700 crore project was laid in 2015 during the tenure of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.
In 2016, the central government granted the necessary permission, and 2,700 acres of land were given for construction. Though the project was originally scheduled to be completed in 2023, it was delayed due to various reasons.
The state government has proposed to name the airport ‘Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport’, which will soon be sent to the central government for final approval.
“The construction at Bhogapuram is progressing at a rapid pace. The people of North Andhra and the Godavari districts are pleased with the state government’s decision to honor Alluri Sitarama Raju, who led a valiant struggle against the British in the agency areas of East and West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, and North Andhra,” said the minister, reports Financial Express.
The Minister emphasized that the airport is on its way to becoming the best in the world including India. He was also happy with the decision of the Andhra Pradesh State Cabinet to name the airport after Alluri Sitarama Raju, a great freedom fighter who led the struggle in the region against British rule.
An air cargo complex and international level maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) facilities are planned at the proposed Bhogapuram airport.
This airport is expected to boost tourism in northern Andhra Pradesh and play a vital role in the development of the state.
It will not only serve the people of north coastal Andhra but also those in the hinterland of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and improve the movement of goods to and from these regions.
The region has huge potential for export of bulk drugs, cashew, shrimp and agro-products.
Around 5,000 people are expected to get direct and indirect employment from the airport.
The world-class facility is expected to enhance connectivity between northern Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the world, leading to growth of industries and service sector and increased revenue for the exchequer.