The Alluri Sitarama Raju Bhogapuram International Airport in Visakhapatnam has been declared ready for inauguration after the aerodrome licence was issued, the civil aviation minister said following an inspection. The chief minister’s office has approached the Prime Minister's Office to finalise a date for the inauguration, which is likely to be attended by Narendra Modi. Officials stated that full-scale commercial flight operations will commence within a week of the opening. The project reached completion nearly six months ahead of the originally targeted December 2026 date. The minister described the facility as world-class and said it was built through joint efforts by the central government, the Andhra Pradesh government and GMR. Extensive verification processes were carried out over the preceding month before licence issuance. Designed to handle 40 million (40 mn) passengers annually, the airport features a 78,000 square metre terminal building modelled on the shape of a flying fish. Interiors and exteriors were said to reflect the culture and heritage of north Andhra while offering facilities comparable to major metropolitan airports. He indicated that the airport is expected to act as a major catalyst for the development of north Andhra, generating employment and supporting tourism, aviation, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals and exports. To ensure connectivity, seven major road links are being developed and plans are under way for a six-lane coastal corridor connecting RK Beach in Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram. A dedicated cargo terminal will be built with an annual handling capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes (20,000 t) to support seafood, pharmaceutical and horticultural exports. The minister said Bhogapuram would emerge as an international aviation hub with dedicated Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities and an Edu City aimed at creating employment opportunities for local youth. He added that the airport would provide logistics and infrastructure support for regional industries and exports. Vizianagaram MP Kalisetti Appala Naidu and MLA Lokam Madhavi attended the inspection and the announcement.