PM Modi to inaugurate Andhra's Bhogapuram international airport on August 1

The official release said the airport is among the "fastest-completed greenfield international airports in India... nearly five months ahead of schedule".

In Short

• The greenfield airport was completed nearly five months ahead of schedule
• Phase one can handle six million passengers annually with future expansion
• A 3,800-metre runway can accommodate wide-body international aircraft with ease

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district on August 1.

Built at nearly Rs 5,000 crore, the state government sees the project as a major asset for the North Andhra region and says it has been developed to international standards as part of its plan to position Visakhapatnam among globally developed cities.

PM Modi is also expected to lay foundation stones and dedicate projects of the Ministries of Petroleum, Surface Transport and other departments worth a cumulative Rs 18,000 crore during the visit. The airport is expected to support industrial growth, employment, exports, skill development and research, according to an official release.

As per the official schedule, the Prime Minister will arrive from Delhi on a special aircraft at 10.45 am on August 1. He will be received by Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Around 11 am, PM Modi will inaugurate the terminal building and inspect the facility along with the Chief Minister, the Governor and other dignitaries.

He will then travel in an open-top vehicle to a public meeting venue, where more than 13,500 tribal women and students will greet him with a Dhimsa dance performance.

He is scheduled to address the public meeting from 11.30 am to 12.55 pm and leave for Delhi at 1.10 pm.

The release said the airport is among the "fastest-completed greenfield international airports in India... nearly five months ahead of schedule".

It has already received the Directorate General of Civil Aviation aerodrome licence, along with the required safety, fire and environmental clearances. In the first phase, the airport has been designed to handle six million passengers a year, with a master plan to expand capacity to 40 million passengers annually in the future.

Developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited under the Public-Private Partnership model using the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer framework, the integrated project covers 2,703.26 acres.

This includes the airport over 2,203.32 acres, an aviation hub over 500 acres, and an aviation university and EduCity over 136.63 acres, along with airside infrastructure, commercial development, residential zones and approach roads.

A key feature is its 3,800-metre Code-E runway, which can handle wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330 and Airbus A340. The airport also has advanced airfield lighting, navigation aids and CNS/ATM infrastructure for domestic and international operations.

The terminal has contact boarding bridges, Common Use Passenger Processing System, self-baggage drop, self-service passenger processing, smart surveillance, access control systems, security management systems and an Integrated Operational Control and Monitoring Centre.

The release said these facilities are meant to improve passenger convenience and operational efficiency.

It added: "Bhogapuram Airport is expected to significantly strengthen North Andhra's export ecosystem through a 25,000 metric tonne annual capacity cargo terminal. It includes temperature-controlled cold chain facilities for transporting pharmaceuticals, marine products and other high-value perishable goods."

The government said integration with Visakhapatnam Port, industrial corridors and logistics networks is expected to help develop Bhogapuram into a major air cargo and logistics hub on India's east coast.

About 30 per cent of the airport's water requirement will be met through recycled water, and it has been developed to LEED Platinum standards.

The terminal's design reflects the state's cultural identity, with an architectural form inspired by a flying fish to represent the Bay of Bengal and North Andhra's maritime heritage, while traditional Rangoli motifs have been used in the roof and ceiling design.

According to the release, the Andhra Pradesh government invested Rs 1,583 crore in infrastructure, including land acquisition, water and power supply, funded works, connectivity roads, road connectivity and canal works.

The state government said the airport is expected to improve air connectivity across North Andhra, coastal Andhra and neighbouring states, and open up opportunities in tourism, hospitality, logistics, warehousing, exports, pharmaceuticals, marine products, IT, aerospace, defence and manufacturing.

It said places such as Araku, Lambasingi, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam are likely to benefit. Overall, the project is being positioned as a major connectivity and economic hub for North Andhra, with the Prime Minister set to formally inaugurate it on August 1.

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