Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Underconstruction airport in Andhra Pradesh
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Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, also known as Bhogapuram Airport, is an under construction 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 is being developed at a cost of ₹45.92 billion (US$480 million), and is scheduled to commence operations in July 2026.[1][2]
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport Allūri Sītārāma Rāju Antarjātīya Vimānāśrayaṁ | |||||||||||
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Aerial view of the site as of April 2025[update] | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | |||||||||||
| Serves | Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region | ||||||||||
| Location | Bhogapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 59 ft / 18 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°58′34″N 083°30′14″E | ||||||||||
| Website | Visakhapatnam Airport | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
.svg)  Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport  Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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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.[3][4] 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.[5] 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.[6]
Planning and development
In June 2015, the Airports Authority of India gave its technical approval for the site at Bhogapuram.[7][8] The site is located off the National Highway 16, about 45 km (28 mi) from Visakhapatnam.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] The airport got environmental clearance in August 2017,[12] and the bids for the development of the airport were submitted in the same month.[13] The foundation stone for the airport was laid by the then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 14 February 2019.[14][15][16] 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.[17]
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.[18][19] 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.[20][21] As of September 2022[update], most of the land acquisition had been completed, with only 28 acres (11 ha) pending to be acquired.[22] The airport was planned to be developed in three phases, with the first phase projected to cost ₹45.92 billion (US$480 million).[23][24] 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.[18]
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.[25] 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.[26][27] 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.[28][29][30][31] In November 2024, Tata group announced plans for commercial development near the airport and sought land for the same from the government.[32] On 4 January 2026, the first validation flight landed at the airport as part of the requirement for obtaining an operating license.[33] The first phase of the airport is projected to be completed by 2026.[34]