Bhogapuram Airport

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Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Aerial view of the site as of April 2025
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerAndhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Limited
OperatorGMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited
ServesVisakhapatnam Metropolitan Region
LocationBhogapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Opened8 July 2026 (2026-07-08)
Elevation AMSL59 ft / 18 m
Coordinates17°58′34″N 083°30′14″E / 17.97611°N 83.50389°E / 17.97611; 83.50389
WebsiteVisakhapatnam Airport
Map
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is located in Andhra Pradesh
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Show map of Andhra Pradesh
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is located in India
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 3,800 12,467 Asphalt

Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport (IATA: VOX, ICAO: VOVI), also known as Bhogapuram Airport, is an upcoming greenfield airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The airport is intended to serve the Visakhapatnam metropolitan region and is located off the National Highway 16, about 45 km (28 mi) from Visakhapatnam. It is being developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited, a subsidiary of GMR Group. In September 2024, the upcoming airport was named after Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju. The first phase of the project was developed at a cost of ₹45.92 billion (US$480 million). The airport is scheduled to commence operations in July 2026.

History

Background

The North Andhra region is served by the Visakhapatnam Airport, which operates as a civil enclave at INS Dega, a naval air station of the Indian Navy. It is designated as a customs airport, and is permitted to operate only limited international flights.[1][2] The Indian navy had stated that it is unable to allocate more slots for commercial flights at the airport due to its increased utilisation for military activities.[3] A Greenfield airport for Visakhapatnam was initially planned during the N. Chandrababu Naidu government in 1997 under the Andhra Pradesh state. Alternate sites like Sabbavaram, Achyutapuram and Koruprolu were also considered.[4]

Planning and development

In June 2015, the Airports Authority of India gave its technical approval for the site at Bhogapuram.[5][6] The site is located off the National Highway 16, about 45 km (28 mi) from Visakhapatnam.[7] By March 2016, the state government had acquired 2,703 acres (1,094 ha) of land for the project, and further acquisition of land was delayed due to agitation from locals.[8] The project was approved by the state government in September 2016, and the airport was planned to be developed under a public–private partnership basis.[9] The airport got environmental clearance in August 2017,[10] and the bids for the development of the airport were submitted in the same month.[11] The foundation stone for the airport was laid by the then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 14 February 2019.[12][13][14] In March 2020, the state government allocated 2,200 acres (890 ha) for the development of the airport, while keeping aside 500 acres (200 ha) of land for future development.[15]

The contract for the development and operations of the airport was awarded to GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), a Special Purpose Entity owned by the GMR Group, which was set up in June 2020.[16][17] In 2022, the state government signed an agreement with the navy to move the civilian operations from the Visakhapatnam airport to the planned new airport in phases over the next 30 years.[18][19] As of September 2022, most of the land acquisition had been completed, with only 28 acres (11 ha) pending to be acquired.[20] The airport was planned to be developed in three phases, with the first phase projected to cost ₹45.92 billion (US$480 million).[21][22] Upon the completion of the first phase, the airport is expected to be able to handle 6.3 million passengers annually, which is expected to increase to 12 and 18 million after the completion of the second and third phases respectively.[16]

Construction

Progress of construction from 2023 to 2024 based on satellite imagery
Progress of construction

After the land acquisition was completed, then state chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy re-laid the foundation stone for the project on 3 May 2023.[23] During this period, the state government decided to downsize the project area, reducing the land allocated for the airport from the original 2,700 acres to 2,200 acres. The construction officially began later that year in November 2023, with Larsen & Toubro being awarded the contract for the civil works by the GMR group.[24][25] Following the return of the TDP-led government in 2024, the project was prioritised for rapid completion. In September 2024, the state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, officially decided to name the facility the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, honoring the legendary Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter from the region.[26][27][28][29] In November 2024, Tata group announced plans for commercial development near the airport and sought land for the same from the government.[30] On 4 January 2026, the first validation flight landed at the airport as part of the requirement for obtaining an operating license.[31] The first phase of the airport was projected to be completed by 2026,[32] and the airport is scheduled to commence operations in July 2026.[33]

Airlines and Destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Scoot Singapore (begins 8 July 2026)[34]

References

  1. "INS Dega". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  2. Visakhapatnam Airport (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  3. "No more flight slots at Vizag airport: Navy". The Times of India. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. Balarama Krishna, R. V.; Durga Rani, K.; Gopala Raju, S. S. S. V. (2012). "Site suitability study for an International Airport in Visakhapatnam". Indian Journal of Education and Information Management. 1 (5): 203–206. ISSN 2277-5374 – via i-Scholar.
  5. "NAAI nod for Bhogapuram Airport Plan, says Minister". The Hindu. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  6. "AP plans aerotropolis at Bhogapuram". The Times of India. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  7. "Bhogapuram Airport to Boost Real Estate Sector". Deccan Chronicle. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  8. "Bhogapuram: suitable package for ryots being evolved, says C.M." The Hindu. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  9. "Andhra Pradesh: Govt panel clears three new airports in Andhra Pradesh". The Times of India. 26 September 2016.
  10. "Green Nod to Rs 2000 crore Bhogapuram International Airport project in Andhra Pradesh". NDTV. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  11. "Airports Authority of India, GMR in race to bag Bhogapuram airport project". The Times of India. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  12. "Chief minister Chandrababu laid Foundation stone for Bhogapuram International Airport near Vizag". The News Minute. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  13. Rao, K. Srinivasa (5 November 2022). "Andhra Pradesh government gearing up to lay foundation stone for Bhogapuram international airport". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  14. Talari, Yadedya (15 February 2019). "CM Chandrababu Naidu lays foundation stone for Bhogapuram airport". Hans India. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  15. t"Cabinet fixes 2,200 acres of land for Bhogapuram airport project". The New Indian Express. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  16. "The first phase of the development of Bhogapuram International Greenfield Airport set in motion". Press Information Bureau (Press release). Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  17. "Andhra Pradesh government drops aerotropolis in Vizag, airport alone to be built". The Economic Times. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  18. "The first phase of the development of Bhogapuram International Greenfield Airport set in motion". Press Information Bureau (Press release). 4 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  19. "Bhogapuram Airport to start soon". Eenadu (in Telugu). 5 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  20. "Top priority to early completion of land acquisition for Bhogapuram Airport at Bhogapuram". The Hindu. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  21. "First commercial validation flight lands at Alluri Sitarama Raju (Bhogapuram) International Airport". The New Indian Express. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  22. "GMR Group to invest Rs 5,000 cr on Bhogapuram Airport in Andhra Pradesh: GM Rao". The Economic Times. 3 March 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  23. "Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy lays foundation stone for Bhogapuram airport". The Times of India. 4 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  24. "L&T Awarded Vizag Bhogapuram Airport's Construction Contract". The Metro Rail Guy. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  25. "Andhra Pradesh: Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport work begins". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  26. "AP cabinet approves new liquor policy, renaming airport". The Siasat Daily. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  27. Ilyas, M. D. (19 September 2024). "AP Cabinet Approves New Liquor Policy, 10% Shops to Kallu Geethas". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  28. "'Bhogapuram Airport will be opened six months before scheduled construction'". The Times of India. 19 September 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  29. "Bhogapuram Airport to be named after Alluri Seetharama Raju". www.deccanchronicle.com. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  30. Rao, K. Srinivasa (12 November 2024). "Star hotels, resorts likely to come up near Bhogapuram international airport". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  31. "GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport successfully conducts validation flight at Bhogapuram". The Economic Times. 4 January 2026. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  32. "Andhra's Bhogapuram airport's ongoing rapid progress". The Financial Express. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  33. "Government plans to inaugurate Bhogapuram Airport on July 5: MP". The Hindu. 23 May 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  34. "Scoot to shift Visakhapatnam operations to Bhogapuram airport from July 8". The Hindu. 22 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.