Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram on August 1. The Rs. 4,727 crore Greenfield airport is set to boost North Andhra's economy, tourism and investments.
Amaravati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district on August 1, marking a major milestone in Andhra Pradesh's infrastructure development. Built at a cost of Rs. 4,727 crore, the Greenfield airport has been completed in a record 31 months and is ready for commercial operations.
The Andhra Pradesh Government views the airport as a strategic growth engine for North Andhra, with the potential to accelerate industrial development, tourism, exports and employment. Developed to international standards, the project is expected to strengthen the economic prospects of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.
Constructed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), the airport has already secured the DGCA aerodrome licence along with all mandatory operational, safety and environmental clearances.
The first phase of the airport is designed to handle 6 million passengers annually, with future expansion planned to accommodate 40 million passengers every year.
A major highlight is the 3,800-metre Code-E runway, capable of handling wide-body aircraft including the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330 and Airbus A340. The airport is equipped with modern navigation systems, advanced airfield lighting and integrated CNS/ATM infrastructure for domestic and international operations.
Passengers will benefit from smart technologies such as contact boarding bridges, Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS), self baggage drop facilities, automated passenger processing, integrated surveillance systems and a modern airport operations control centre.
Bhogapuram Airport is expected to emerge as a major cargo gateway with an annual handling capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes. Temperature-controlled cold storage facilities will support exports of pharmaceuticals, seafood and other perishable products.
Integration with Visakhapatnam Port, industrial corridors and logistics networks is expected to strengthen North Andhra's export ecosystem and position Bhogapuram as an important logistics hub on India's east coast.
The airport has been designed with sustainability as a key objective. It features a 5 MW solar power plant, rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment facilities, water recycling systems, energy-efficient HVAC units, LED airfield lighting and integrated waste management.
Nearly 30% of the airport's water requirement will be met through recycled water, while the entire project is being developed to LEED Platinum standards.
The State Government has proposed a 500-acre Aviation Hub adjacent to the airport, focusing on aerospace and defence manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), aviation logistics, research and development, and skill development.
The project is expected to attract nearly Rs. 20,000 crore in investments and generate over 60,000 direct and 1.2 lakh indirect jobs.
An Aviation University (EduCity) is also planned over 136.63 acres, focusing on aviation, aerospace, defence, drones and emerging technologies. The proposed institution is expected to attract Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 crore in investments and accommodate around 9,000 students while providing executive training to nearly 4,000 professionals annually.
The Andhra Pradesh Government invested Rs. 1,582.97 crore towards enabling infrastructure, including land acquisition, water and power supply, approach roads, irrigation canal works and other connectivity projects.
Officials believe the airport will unlock fresh opportunities in tourism, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, marine exports, IT, aerospace and defence industries, while significantly improving connectivity across North Andhra and neighbouring States.
The project is also expected to enhance tourism to destinations including Araku, Lambasingi, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, besides transforming the Visakhapatnam-Bhogapuram Growth Corridor into one of India's emerging industrial and economic hubs.
