Visakhapatnam, August 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, marking the commissioning of a major aviation infrastructure project expected to boost regional connectivity, tourism and economic growth.
After landing at the newly developed Greenfield airport, the Prime Minister inaugurated the passenger terminal building and toured the facility along with Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu.
Officials from the GMR Group and the Civil Aviation Ministry briefed the Prime Minister on the airport’s key features during the walkthrough. The terminal has been designed to reflect Andhra Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage, with traditional art and craft displays, including prominent Etikoppaka artwork at the entrance.
As the Prime Minister proceeded to the public meeting venue, he was welcomed by a large cultural presentation featuring the traditional ‘Dhimsa’ dance performed by tribal women. According to officials, the participation of 13,500 tribal women in the performance created a Guinness World Record. PM Modi applauded the performers during the event.
During his visit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to lay foundation stones, inaugurate and dedicate multiple development projects worth more than ₹17,900 crore in the region.
Developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at a cost exceeding ₹5,640 crore, the Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport has an initial annual passenger handling capacity of six million. The project is expected to significantly improve air connectivity while promoting tourism, trade, investment and employment across Andhra Pradesh.
The airport features modern infrastructure and advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled systems, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Airside 4.0 technologies, an Airport Predictive Operations Centre (APOC), biometric passenger processing, automated baggage handling and intelligent operational monitoring. These systems are aimed at improving operational efficiency, enhancing passenger convenience and strengthening safety standards.
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