Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh.
BHOGAPURAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, marking a major milestone in the state’s aviation infrastructure. Built at a cost of ₹5,640 crore under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd., the greenfield airport was completed in a record 31 months, making it one of India’s fastest-completed international greenfield airports.
The airport has an initial passenger handling capacity of 6 million passengers annually, with a long-term expansion plan to accommodate 40 million passengers per year, positioning it among the largest airports planned on India’s eastern coast. Commercial flight operations are scheduled to begin on August 17, 2026.
The inauguration formed the centrepiece of the Prime Minister’s visit to Andhra Pradesh, during which he also laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated multiple development projects worth over ₹17,900 crore aimed at strengthening connectivity, manufacturing and regional development in the state.
PM Modi: Airport will accelerate North Andhra’s growth
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the airport’s role in accelerating the region’s development and said it symbolises the government’s focus on creating modern infrastructure across the country.
“This airport will accelerate the development of North Andhra. Earlier, airports were named after one family, but today this airport has been named after freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju,” the Prime Minister said.
Designed for future growth
Located around 40 kilometres from Visakhapatnam, the airport has been developed to become the primary commercial airport for the Visakhapatnam region, with scheduled commercial flight operations shifting from the existing Visakhapatnam Airport from August 17, 2026. The existing airport, which functions as a civil enclave within the Indian Navy’s INS Dega, will continue to serve defence operations.
It is Andhra Pradesh’s first greenfield international airport after the state’s bifurcation in 2014 and is expected to serve North Coastal Andhra Pradesh for decades.
The new airport features a 3,800-metre Code E runway, capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350. Its integrated passenger terminal incorporates advanced digital infrastructure, sustainability features and international-standard passenger facilities. The terminal’s architecture draws inspiration from Andhra Pradesh’s traditional Chuttilu cottages, the Araku Valley landscape and the graceful movement of a flying fish.
Economic boost for Andhra Pradesh
The Andhra Pradesh government expects the airport to emerge as a major aviation and economic hub for the region, benefiting Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and neighbouring districts.
According to the state government, the project is expected to:
- Boost domestic and international tourism.
- Strengthen cargo and export infrastructure.
- Generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
- Attract investments in IT, logistics, manufacturing and data centres.
- Support the development of an aerotropolis around the airport.
The project is also expected to reduce dependence on the existing naval enclave airport at Visakhapatnam while significantly improving international connectivity for North Andhra and neighbouring parts of Odisha.
Fast-track execution
Main construction commenced in late 2023, and the airport was completed in just 31 months, a timeline significantly shorter than most greenfield airport projects in India, which typically take several years from construction to commissioning.
With commercial operations set to begin on August 17, the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is expected to become the principal aviation gateway for North Andhra, strengthening regional connectivity, boosting tourism and trade, and supporting long-term economic growth along India’s eastern coast.
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