On August 1, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. The event marked a significant milestone for the region’s aviation infrastructure and economic ambitions. Developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited under a public-private partnership on a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer model, the greenfield project has been completed several months ahead of its original schedule at a cost of approximately ₹5,000 to ₹5,640 crore.
Spanning more than 2,200 acres and located about 45 to 50 kilometres from Visakhapatnam, the airport is designed to serve as the primary international gateway for north coastal Andhra. In its first phase, it has a capacity to handle six million passengers annually, with a long-term master plan that allows expansion up to 40 million passengers. The 3.8-kilometre runway can accommodate wide-body aircraft, positioning the facility for both domestic growth and future international routes.
The passenger terminal incorporates modern technology aimed at improving efficiency and passenger experience. Systems include artificial intelligence-driven operations, biometric processing, automated baggage handling, Building Information Modelling, and an Airport Predictive Operations Centre. These features are intended to reduce delays, streamline security and immigration, and support higher volumes of traffic as demand rises. The architecture draws inspiration from local cultural elements, including references to traditional Andhra forms and the region’s natural landscape.
Commercial flight operations are scheduled to begin on August 17, 2026. From that date, all scheduled commercial services currently operating from the civil enclave at Visakhapatnam’s INS Dega will permanently shift to Bhogapuram. The existing naval air station will then focus primarily on defence and special flights. This transition is expected to free the older facility from capacity constraints while giving airlines access to a purpose-built civilian airport with greater expansion potential.
Officials and developers have described the airport as more than a transport project. It is projected to act as a catalyst for industrial growth, tourism, exports, employment, and investment across North Andhra. Improved air connectivity is expected to benefit sectors ranging from manufacturing and logistics to hospitality and education. Proximity to emerging data-centre and industrial clusters has also been highlighted as a factor that could strengthen the region’s role as an economic hub on India’s eastern corridor.
The inauguration formed part of a broader set of development initiatives. Alongside the airport, the Prime Minister dedicated or laid foundation stones for multiple projects valued at nearly ₹18,000 crore. State leaders, including Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, emphasised the airport’s potential to improve regional links and support long-term growth.
Named after the freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, the airport carries symbolic weight as well as practical importance. It represents Andhra Pradesh’s first major greenfield international airport since the state’s bifurcation and stands as the second such facility in India to open in 2026. With its modern infrastructure, expanded capacity, and strategic location, Bhogapuram is poised to reshape travel and economic patterns in the region for years to come.
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