PM Modi inaugurates Rs 5,000 cr Bhogapuram Airport in Andhra Pradesh

newsnow9August 1, 202606 mins

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Rs 5,000 crore Bhogapuram Airport in Andhra Pradesh, formally named the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, built in Vizianagaram district near Visakhapatnam.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the terminal building and inspected the facility along with Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. He also laid the foundation stone for and dedicated to the nation multiple infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 18,000 crore in the state, including a semiconductor manufacturing unit, power transmission works and national highway projects.

Developed under the public-private partnership model by GMR Airports, the greenfield airport has been built to handle 6 million passengers annually. The terminal’s design draws on Andhra Pradesh’s cultural heritage, with its roof profile inspired by traditional Chuttilu cottages of the Araku Valley.

The airport is among the “fastest-completed greenfield international airports in India… nearly five months ahead of schedule,” the release further said.

It has already secured the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) aerodrome licence, along with all required safety, fire and environmental clearances.

Designed to handle six million passengers annually in the first phase, the airport also has a master plan to expand the capacity to 40 million passengers annually in the future.

The project is expected to play a pivotal role in boosting economic growth, tourism, industrial investments, exports, logistics and aerospace and defence sectors across the erstwhile Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

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

It includes the airport in 2,203.32 acres, an aviation hub (500 acres), aviation university and EduCity (136.63 acres), including comprehensive airside infrastructure, commercial development, residential zones and approach roads.

A key highlight of the airport is a 3,800-metre Code-E runway, capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330 and Airbus A340.

The terminal incorporates advanced passenger processing technologies, which include contact boarding bridges, Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS), self-baggage drop, self-service passenger processing, smart surveillance, access control systems, security management systems and an Integrated Operational Control and Monitoring Centre.

These facilities are aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and operational efficiency, said the press release.

“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,” it said.

Around 30 per cent of the airport’s water requirement will be met through recycled water, and it was developed as per LEED Platinum standards.

Architecturally, the terminal reflects the state’s cultural identity, inspired by a flying fish, symbolising the Bay of Bengal and North Andhra’s maritime heritage, while the terminal incorporates traditional Rangoli into its roof and ceiling designs.

The Andhra Pradesh government invested Rs 1,583 crore for infrastructure, including land acquisition (Rs 944 crore), water supply (Rs 75 crore), power supply (Rs 97 crore), funded works (Rs 134 crore), connectivity roads (Rs 301 crore), road connectivity (Rs 3.25 crore) and canal works (Rs 27 crore), said the press release.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu highlighted the salient features of the airport to the PM.

Later in the day, PM Modi would lay the foundation for and inaugurate projects worth nearly Rs 18,000 crore in the southern state.