The new airport will begin commercial operations on August 17 and initially handle 60 lakh passengers annually.
It is expected to boost tourism, exports, employment and industrial development across North Andhra.
Highlights
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Bhogapuram International Airport.
- The airport has been developed at a cost of nearly ₹5,000 crore.
- Commercial flight operations will begin on August 17, 2026.
- The first phase can handle 60 lakh passengers every year.
- Its long-term capacity can be expanded to four crore passengers annually.
- The airport is expected to support jobs, exports, tourism and regional investment.
Story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, giving a major infrastructure boost to the North Andhra region.
The new airport has been developed by the GMR Group at an estimated cost of nearly ₹5,000 crore. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin on August 17, 2026.
In the first phase, the airport has been designed to handle around 60 lakh passengers annually. Its master plan provides for future expansion, allowing the airport to serve up to four crore passengers every year as traffic grows.
The Andhra Pradesh government views the project as more than an aviation facility. It is expected to become a major economic growth centre for Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and nearby districts.
The airport is expected to improve air connectivity for domestic and international travellers while reducing pressure on the existing Visakhapatnam airport. Better connectivity may also support the movement of tourists, business travellers, students and professionals.
The state government believes the airport could encourage industrial investment, promote exports and generate direct and indirect employment. It is also expected to support the development of hotels, transport services, logistics facilities, retail businesses and other commercial activities around the airport.
Agricultural, seafood, pharmaceutical and manufactured products from the region may benefit from faster access to domestic and global markets. Improved cargo connectivity could help local businesses reduce transportation time and expand their customer base.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu briefed the Prime Minister about the airport’s infrastructure, passenger facilities and future expansion plans.
The airport has been named after freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, who played a significant role in the tribal resistance movement against British rule.
The inauguration is part of a wider infrastructure push in Andhra Pradesh. Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several projects worth nearly ₹18,000 crore in the state.
The Bhogapuram airport is expected to strengthen North Andhra’s position as an emerging investment and tourism destination. As passenger traffic increases, the project could become an important gateway connecting the region with major Indian cities and international markets.
