The northern part of Andhra Pradesh will reach a major development milestone with the commissioning of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district on August one by the Prime Minister. The project was built at a cost of nearly Rs 47.27 billion (bn) in a record 31 months and is ready to commence commercial operations after receiving the aerodrome licence from the Director General of Civil Aviation and required safety and environmental clearances.

The state government frames the airport as a transformational asset for North Andhra and as part of a plan to position Visakhapatnam among globally developed cities. The terminal is designed to handle six million (mn) passengers annually in phase one, with a master plan to expand to 40 million (mn), and it incorporates advanced passenger processing technologies to improve convenience and efficiency. Officials expect the facility to catalyse industrial growth, employment, exports and skills development across the region.

Developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited under a public-private partnership and delivered on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer model, the integrated project spans 2,703.26 acres including 2,203.32 acres for the airport, a 500-acre aviation hub and a 136.63-acre EduCity. A 3,800-metre Code-E runway will accommodate wide-body aircraft and the airside is equipped with advanced lighting, navigation and CNS/ATM infrastructure to support international operations. The terminal also includes an integrated operational control centre and space for commercial development.

A 25,000 t annual capacity cargo terminal with temperature-controlled cold chain is expected to boost exports of pharmaceuticals, marine products and other perishables and integrate with Visakhapatnam Port and industrial corridors. Around 30 per cent of water demand will be met through recycled water and the development meets LEED Platinum standards, with architectural motifs inspired by a flying fish reflecting maritime heritage. Plans for the 500-acre aviation hub aim to attract around Rs 200 billion (bn) in investment and generate over 60,000 direct and 0.12 mn indirect jobs, while an adjacent aviation university is projected to draw Rs 50 billion (bn) and accommodate 9,000 students.