The Visakhapatnam International Airport will cease civilian operations from July 8, when all commercial flight services are scheduled to shift to the newly built Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in the neighbouring Vizianagaram district, around 50 km from the city.
“The existing airport at Visakhapatnam, which is under the control of the Indian Navy, will cease to handle civilian flights, with the greenfield Bhogapuram airport becoming the region’s sole commercial aviation gateway,” a senior Visakhapatnam district administration official said.
The airport, developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL) under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the first week of July, with commercial operations set to begin on July 8.
Named after freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, the airport has been designed to handle six million passengers annually in its first phase, with scope for future expansion.
“Trial and validation flights were successfully completed on January 4, and airport authorities have already begun testing passenger facilities, including check-in counters, baggage handling and security systems, ahead of commissioning,” the official said.
Several airlines have already informed passengers and travel agents about the transition. Singapore-based Scoot Airlines has issued alerts stating that all flights to and from Visakhapatnam from July 8 onwards will operate from Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport instead of the existing Visakhapatnam International Airport.
The Tours and Travel Agents Association of Andhra Pradesh (TTAA) has advised passengers holding tickets for travel on or after July 8 to verify their departure and arrival airport while planning their journey. Check-in operations for shifting airlines will initially function from Terminal 1 of the new airport.
With civilian operations shifting to Bhogapuram, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) on June 22 approved an ad hoc tariff structure that will remain in force from the commercial operation date (COD) until regular aeronautical tariffs are finalised.
Under the tariff order, departing domestic passengers will pay a user development fee (UDF) of Rs 835, while arriving passengers will pay Rs 355. For international travellers, the UDF has been fixed at Rs 1,255 for departures and Rs 545 for arrivals.
Landing charges have been fixed at Rs 1,400 per metric tonne of an aircraft’s maximum take-off weight for domestic airlines and Rs 1,975 per metric tonne for international carriers.
Road connectivity
While the new airport is ready for commercial operations, the biggest challenge is likely to be connectivity for passengers travelling from Visakhapatnam, as the airport is located more than 50 km from the city.
The state government has stepped up efforts to improve road connectivity and public transport before operations begin. National Highway 16, the primary route to the airport, remains heavily congested with freight traffic.
The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has proposed seven road projects to improve airport connectivity, though officials believe only the Adavivaram-Sonthyam and Vepagunta-Pinagadi roads are likely to substantially reduce travel time.
Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat expressed confidence that connectivity would improve over time.
Also read: Two years on, Naidu’s deft balancing act in Andhra
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