In a significant development, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu announced that the much-awaited greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram will be operational by June 2026, six months ahead of the originally planned completion date of December 2026.
The airport is located about 50 km from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam. GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd (GVIAL), a 100% subsidiary of GMR Airports Ltd (GAL), is the concessionaire for the development and operations of Bhogapuram Airport.
The ambitious project, with an estimated cost of Rs 4,700 crore, had its foundation stone laid in 2015 during the tenure of Ashok Gajapati Raju as Civil Aviation Minister and N Chandrababu Naidu as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
The central government granted the necessary approvals in 2016, and 2,700 acres of land were acquired for the construction. While the project was originally slated for completion in 2023, it encountered delays for various reasons.
The state government has proposed naming the airport ‘Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport,’ and the proposal will soon be sent to the union 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, as reported by Financial Express.
The minister emphasized that the airport is poised to be one of the best not only in India but on a global scale. He also expressed his satisfaction with the Andhra Pradesh state cabinet’s decision to name the airport after Alluri Sitarama Raju, a legendary freedom fighter known for his resistance against British rule in the region.
Significance of the Airport
- A world-class maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) facility and air cargo complex are planned at the proposed Bhogapuram airport.
- This airport is expected to play a pivotal role in the state’s development and boost tourism in northern Andhra Pradesh.
- It will serve not only the residents of north coastal Andhra but also those from the hinterland of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, and improve cargo movement from these regions.
- There is significant potential for the export of shrimp, bulk drugs, agriculture products, and cashews from this region.
- The airport is expected to provide jobs for about 5,000 people, directly and indirectly.
- The world-class facility is expected to increase connectivity between north Andhra and various parts of the world, driving growth in industries and the service sector while increasing revenue for the exchequer.