Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport

Background

North Andhra is currently served by Visakhapatnam Airport, which operates as a civil enclave at INS Dega, a naval air station of the Indian Navy. The airport is designated as a customs airport and handles only limited international flights.^[6] The Indian Navy has said that it cannot allocate additional slots for commercial flights because of increased military use of the air station.^[7]

A greenfield airport for Visakhapatnam was first proposed during the government of N. Chandrababu Naidu in 1997, when Andhra Pradesh was still undivided. Alternative sites including Sabbavaram, Achyutapuram and Koruprolu were also considered.^[8]

Planning and development

Following the state division in 2014, the newly elected TDP government, led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, proposed a greenfield airport at Bhogapuram.^[9] The YSRCP opposition, led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, challenged the proposed airport due to farmer displacement, advocating instead for expanding the current facility.^[10][11] This soon led to various farmers protesting against the proposed airport.^[12][13] Despite the fierce opposition, the government moved ahead with the project and in June 2015, the Airports Authority of India gave technical approval for the Bhogapuram site.^[14][15] The site is located off National Highway 16, about 45 km (28 mi) from Visakhapatnam.^[16] By March 2016, the state government had acquired 2,703 acres (1,094 ha) of land for the project, although further acquisition was delayed by local protests.^[17]

The project was approved by the state government in September 2016 and was planned as a public–private partnership.^[18] The airport received environmental clearance in August 2017, and bids for development were submitted in the same month.^[19][20]

The foundation stone for the airport was laid by then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 14 February 2019.^[21] In March 2020, the state government allocated 2,200 acres (890 ha) for the airport project and reserved 500 acres (200 ha) for future development.^[22]

The contract for development and operations was awarded to GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), a special purpose entity owned by the GMR Group.^[2][23] In 2022, the state government signed an agreement with the Navy to shift civilian operations from Visakhapatnam Airport to the new airport in phases over the next 30 years.^[24][25] By September 2022, most of the land acquisition had been completed, with only 28 acres (11 ha) remaining.^[26] After land acquisition was completed, then chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy re-laid the foundation stone on 3 May 2023.^[27] Later that year, the state government reduced the land allocated for the airport from 2,700 acres (1,100 ha) to 2,200 acres (890 ha).

Construction and opening

Construction began in November 2023, and Larsen & Toubro was awarded the civil works contract by the GMR Group.^[28][29] Following the return of the TDP-led government in 2024, the project was prioritised for completion. In September 2024, the state cabinet chaired by chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu decided to name the facility after the revolutionary Indian freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju.^{[30][31][32][33]}

In November 2024, the Tata group announced plans for commercial development near the airport and sought land from the government for the project.^[34] On 4 January 2026, the first validation flight landed at the airport as part of the process for obtaining an operating licence.^[35]

The first phase of the airport is expected to handle 6.3 million passengers annually, rising to 12 million and 18 million after the second and third phases respectively.^[2] The airport is scheduled to be inaugurated on 1 August 2026, and the commercial operations are scheduled to begin on 17 August 2026.^[4]

Runway

The airport features a single 3,800-metre (12,467 ft) Code 4E runway designed to handle wide-body aircraft.^[36]

Terminal

The modern integrated passenger terminal has an initial capacity to handle 6 million passengers per annum (MPPA) in its first phase, with scalability to 40 MPPA in future phases. The facility also includes a dedicated cargo terminal to support exports in the pharmaceuticals, electronics, and seafood sectors. The airport was built with sustainability features, including renewable energy systems and rainwater harvesting. In July 2026, ahead of its inauguration, the airport received its Aerodrome Licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and clearances from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).^[37][38]