Naidu: Phase 1 of Bhogapuram Airport to be Completed by 2026.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that Bhogapuram International Airport, once completed, will significantly boost the region's economic activity. On Thursday, Naidu conducted an aerial survey of the airport's construction site and confirmed that the first phase of the airport works will be completed by 2026.

Naidu emphasized the potential of the stretch from Bhogapuram Airport to Visakhapatnam to become an industrial hub, attracting investors and spurring the creation of enabling infrastructure. “The beach road should be extended from Bhogapuram to Visakhapatnam. All approvals for this were received during my previous government’s tenure from 2014-19. The airport should also be connected to the national highway,” he stated. Naidu criticized the YSRCP government for delaying the projects, necessitating their resurrection.

GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd (GVIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Airports Ltd (GAL), is developing the Greenfield International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh. The project is being implemented on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, following a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.

GVIAL plans to develop the airport in stages. Initially, it will be built to service 6 million passengers annually, with further expansion based on passenger traffic growth. The airport will offer services for domestic and international travel, as well as cargo.

The proposed Greenfield airport site is strategically located on the border of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts, approximately 45 km from Visakhapatnam via NH-16 (Old NH-5) and 25 km from Vizianagaram via NH-43. Its east coast location provides access to a vast catchment area, enhancing its potential for economic growth.

HBL