Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the greenfield Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district on August 1. Constructed at a cost of nearly ₹5,000 crore, the state government considers the development a landmark project for the North Andhra region, aimed at aligning Visakhapatnam with globally leading urban centres. Alongside the airport opening, the Prime Minister will lay foundation stones and dedicate projects spanning petroleum, surface transport, and infrastructure sectors valued at a cumulative ₹18,000 crore.
According to the official itinerary, the Prime Minister will arrive from Delhi on a special aircraft at 10:45 am, where he will be received by Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Following his arrival, he will inaugurate the terminal building at 11:00 am and inspect the facility alongside state dignitaries. He will then travel in an open-top vehicle to the public meeting venue, where more than 13,500 tribal women and students are scheduled to welcome him with a traditional Dhimsa dance performance. He is scheduled to address the gathering until 12:55 pm before departing for Delhi at 1:10 pm.
Completed nearly five months ahead of schedule, the project stands as one of India's fastest-delivered greenfield airports. It has secured its aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, along with the necessary safety, fire, and environmental approvals. In its initial phase, the airport is equipped to process six million passengers annually, with long-term expansion plans designed to scale capacity to 40 million passengers per year.
The project has been developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited through a Public-Private Partnership model on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer framework. The entire complex spans 2,703.26 acres, comprising 2,203.32 acres for the main airfield, a 500-acre aviation hub, and a 136.63-acre zone set aside for an aviation university and EduCity, supported by airside infrastructure, commercial areas, and access roads.
Engineered to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330, and Airbus A340, the facility features a 3,800-metre Code-E runway complemented by advanced airfield lighting, navigation aids, and modern air traffic management systems. Inside the terminal, operations are supported by contact boarding bridges, self-service baggage drops, smart surveillance systems, and an Integrated Operational Control and Monitoring Centre designed to streamline passenger movement and security.
To strengthen the regional export ecosystem, the site incorporates a cargo terminal with an annual capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes, including temperature-controlled cold chain facilities for pharmaceutical items, marine produce, and high-value perishable goods. Combined with transport links to Visakhapatnam Port and surrounding industrial corridors, the site is positioned to serve as a major logistics hub along India’s eastern coast.
From an environmental perspective, the airport has been built to LEED Platinum standards, featuring water treatment facilities that will supply 30 per cent of its operational water requirements through recycled sources. Architecturally, the terminal incorporates regional elements, with an outer form inspired by the flying fish of the Bay of Bengal and ceiling designs reflecting traditional Rangoli patterns.
The Andhra Pradesh government invested Rs 1,583 crore in enabling infrastructure, including land acquisition, power, water lines, and road connectivity networks. The completed hub is expected to improve regional accessibility across coastal Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states, driving growth across tourism, IT, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and aerospace in areas including Araku, Lambasingi, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam.
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