Srinivas said,“We have about 34 flights operating now, including two international services,one to Abu Dhabi and another to Singapore. There is always scope to increase these numbers. The new airport is not only state-of-the-art but is also equipped to handle large-bodied international aircraft.”the Telugu diaspora across the globe is estimated at around 30 lakh,making it one of the largest overseas communities.
Of this, around four to five lakh people are believed to hail from Uttarandhra alone. Since the airport has been developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model,GMR will play a significant role in promoting its growth and expanding connectivity, he added. Related Stories Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport: A new gateway for Andhra Pradesh Bhogapuram airport historic chapter for Uttarandhra, says Union Civil Aviation MinisterBhogapuram airport commute: ₹300 by RTC e-bus, ₹800 to ₹1,500 by cab from VisakhapatnamTwenty-one metres of glass on a cyclone coast: inside the Bhogapuram terminalSpeaking about domestic expansion, Mr.
Srinivas said proposals are already in place for two to three additional flights to Hyderabad and Bengaluru, while services to new destinations such as Coimbatore,Pune and Varanasi are also in the pipeline.“Our immediate target is to achieve annual footfall of 50 lakh passengers,” he said.Catalyst for growthMr. Srinivas said Bhogapuram airport would emerge as a major catalyst for the economic growth of north Andhra. He pointed out that Bhogapuram was chosen because of its strategic location, being almost equidistant from the six districts of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli,Srikakulam,Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram and even Alluri Sitarama Raju district.“We needed a bigger and more modern airport to meet the growing demands of the region.
- Srinivas said, “We have about 34 flights operating now,including two international services, one to Abu Dhabi and another to Singapore.
- There is always scope to increase these numbers.
- Of this,around four to five lakh people are believed to hail from Uttarandhra alone.
Airports are catalysts for growth . They not only facilitate passenger movement but also significantly improve cargo logistics,” he said.The airport is expected to provide a major boost to transportation of high-value products, including agricultural produce, processed food, pharmaceuticals and,most importantly, the region’s thriving aquaculture exports.several major investments are either under way or have shown interest in region,thanks in part to the improved logistics that new airport offers. These include ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel, Google and Reliance data centres,software companies such as Cognizant and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS),apart from steel manufacturers from West Bengal and aluminium smelting units.“Investors today are very particular about connectivity and logistics.
The new airport gives the region a significant advantage in attracting large-scale investments,” he said.Mr . Srinivas also expressed confidence that the airport,coupled with the arrival of new industries, would create substantial employment opportunities and help realise the long-standing vision of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh to curb migration from north Andhra by creating jobs locally.“We are working on skilling youth of this region according to industry requirements.
