The Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is Andhra Pradesh’s first greenfield international airport since the State’s bifurcation in 2014. Commercial flights are scheduled to begin on August 17.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram and unveiled a wider package of infrastructure projects valued at more than ₹17,900 crore across Andhra Pradesh.
The new airport, located in Vizianagaram district, marks a significant addition to the State’s aviation network. It is also Andhra Pradesh’s first greenfield international airport since the 2014 bifurcation, giving the North Andhra region a new gateway for domestic and international connectivity.
Built at a cost of more than ₹5,640 crore, the airport has been developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited under a public-private partnership. Its first phase is designed to handle six million passengers annually.
Commercial flight operations are scheduled to begin on August 17. Civil operations at the existing Visakhapatnam airport are expected to cease when services shift to Bhogapuram.
Airport designed for future passenger growth
The airport’s master plan allows its annual passenger-handling capacity to be expanded from six million to 40 million as demand increases.
The project was developed through the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer model. Its wider plan includes an aviation hub, commercial and residential development, approach roads, and space for an aviation university and EduCity.
The passenger terminal incorporates modern infrastructure, advanced technology and sustainability features intended to improve operational efficiency and meet future aviation requirements. The project is expected to strengthen connectivity while supporting tourism, trade, investment and employment in the region.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu briefed the Prime Minister on the airport’s facilities during the inauguration ceremony.
₹17,900 crore project package spans multiple sectors
The airport inauguration formed part of a broader development programme covering several parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Among the projects announced were a semiconductor plant in Visakhapatnam, power transmission works linked to renewable energy zones in Kurnool and Anantapur, and four national highway projects.
Addressing a public gathering, Modi described the combined investment as approximately ₹18,000 crore and said the projects reflected the pace at which Andhra Pradesh was progressing.
“These development works symbolise the rapid pace at which Andhra Pradesh is progressing today,” he said, connecting the announcements with the State’s ambition of building a prosperous “Swarna Andhra”.
The Prime Minister said sustained economic growth could not be driven by one project or sector alone. It required an entire ecosystem, he said, adding that Andhra Pradesh was working to create such an environment for investment and development.
He also said railway projects worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore were under way in Andhra Pradesh to connect the State more closely with major industrial centres. According to Modi, the State’s railway network had been electrified and more than 70 stations were being modernised.
North Andhra placed at the centre of the growth pitch
The Bhogapuram airport is being positioned as more than a passenger terminal. The State government expects it to support industrial growth, exports, skill development, research and job creation in North Andhra.
The airport’s name also carries historical significance. It honours freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, whose legacy is closely associated with the tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh.
During his address, Modi described the airport as a runway for the region’s growth and a launchpad for better opportunities for young people.
The inauguration also brought the region’s tribal culture into focus. More than 13,000 tribal women and girl students had participated in a Dhimsa performance at the airport, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest presentation of the traditional dance. The performers were arranged in 433 groups for the event.
Naidu thanked the farmers who provided land for the airport, telling them that their contribution had helped create what he called a “golden future” for Uttarandhra.
With the inauguration complete and commercial services scheduled to start later this month, Bhogapuram is set to become the principal civil aviation gateway for the Visakhapatnam region. Its long-term impact will depend on how effectively the new connectivity is matched with the industrial, transport and investment projects announced alongside it.
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