PM to inaugurate much-awaited Bhogapuram Int'l Airport on Aug 1

Visakhapatnam: The ‘muhurat’ has been fixed and it is official now! With Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the much-awaited Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district on August 1 and dedicating it to the nation, every minute detail at the terminal garners greater attention.

As close to 98 percent of the airport work nears completion at the venue, the tiny percentage of work-in-progress left to attend to accelerates.

After revising and rescheduling the dates from June this year, the airport inauguration is slated for August 1 (Saturday).

Even as the district administration and GMR Group pull out all stops to wrap up the last-minute touches ahead of the scheduled timelines, ministers visit the airport to ensure things shape up as envisaged.

On Monday, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, MSME Minister Kondapalli Srinivas, Superintendent of Police AR Damodar and District Collector S Ram Sundar Reddy visited Bhogapuram International Airport, reviewed the work in progress and examined security arrangements made for the ensuing arrival of the Prime Minister.

A coordinated execution is sought to ensure smooth execution of the airport’s inaugural. As directed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the airport inauguration will highlight the state’s tribal culture and tradition.

For effective traffic management, security arrangements have been categorised into different parts whereas plans are on to accommodate over 5,000 vehicles at the venue.

‘Uttara Andhra to Uttama Andhra’

Following the completion of the airport’s construction phase, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu remarked that the date marks a momentous occasion for the Uttara Andhra region as it is set for an incredible transformation to ‘Uttama Andhra’ (Best Andhra). As the new dawn of transition unfolds with the Prime Minister’s participation in the airport inaugural, the Union Minister sought the complete support of Andhra Pradesh’s people to make the ensuing event a resounding success.

The airport was supposed to be inaugurated on June 26 but was rescheduled to July 5. Now, it is slated for August 1.

Defined as the ‘jewel’ for the North Andhra region, or rather ‘Uttama Andhra’, the new airport is expected to usher in a plethora of opportunities across many auxiliary industries.Designed to accommodate a wide-body aircraft with a terminal spanning over 78,000-sqm, the airport is equipped with one of India’s longest runways stretching up to 3,800-m.

Along with a 3,800-metre Code 4E runway, the airport features a modern integrated passenger terminal, dedicated cargo facilities and advanced airside infrastructure capable of handling both domestic and international operations.

Demonstrating its readiness for commercial operations, the airport has secured all major statutory and regulatory clearances, including the Aerodrome Licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, security vetting approvals from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, notification as an Immigration Check Post, customs notification under Section 8 of the Customs Act, Consent to Operate from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, along with other mandatory operational approvals from the concerned regulatory authorities.

These approvals pave the way for scheduled commercial operations to take off a week or two after the inauguration.

Marking the culmination of one of India’s most significant aviation infrastructure projects and heralding a new era of enhanced connectivity, economic growth and regional development for North Coastal Andhra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to dedicate Andhra Pradesh’s newest international airport to the nation on August 1.

Developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited, the greenfield airport has been designed to meet the region’s growing aviation needs with an initial capacity of 6 million passengers per annum (MPPA), scalable to more than 40 MPPA in a phased manner.

Strategically located at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram, the airport will serve as the primary aviation gateway for Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and neighbouring districts of southern Odisha and Chhattisgarh, significantly improving access to major domestic and international destinations.

As the countdown commences for the airport’s inauguration, final preparations enter the last phase in close coordination with government agencies, regulatory authorities, airport stakeholders and partner organisations.