Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju (Bhogapuram) International Airport on August 1, with a large public ceremony and officials from state and central government overseeing final preparations.
- GMR and authorities say the airport has received key clearances required for operations, including the DGCA aerodrome licence, BCAS security approval, Immigration Check Post notification, Customs clearance and the state pollution board consent.
- The greenfield facility was built by GMR on about 2,200 acres at an estimated cost of ₹4,500 crore and features a 3,800‑metre Code 4E runway, an integrated terminal, cargo facilities and an initial capacity of six million passengers a year scalable to over 40 million.
- Local officials are finalising event logistics across a 60‑acre venue with parking for thousands, four-sector security deployments and expedited approach‑road work to manage heavy traffic on NH‑16 and ensure passenger access.
- State and central ministers say the airport will boost tourism, exports and jobs in the Visakhapatnam Economic Region and early indicators to watch include new flight plans, the Vijayawada ATC upgrades and the roll‑out of dedicated road and public transport links.