Saturday,August 1, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram. Big deal for Andhra Pradesh — its first greenfield international airport since 2014's state split. Built by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited for over ₹5,640 crore,it can handle six million passengers annually in first phase.
Modi cut the ribbon,checked out the facilities. State officials, including Governor S. Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, were there,proud of the new airport . Modi also kicked off projects worth over ₹17,900 crore, like a semiconductor plant in Visakhapatnam and energy works in Kurnool and Anantapur.
Commercial flights start August 17, as civil operations at old Visakhapatnam airport end. This shift should boost air links and economic growth in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Modi's visit was his first public event after protests in New Delhi. Tribal women and girl students performed the traditional Dhimsa dance, a Guinness World Record holder, with over 13,000 participants. They greeted Modi with this dance.
The airport sits on 2,200 acres near NH-16,giving easy access to three north coastal districts. Its 3,800-meter runway can handle wide-body jets, a leap from old Visakhapatnam airport's limits due to military and infrastructure issues.
After Cyclone Hudhud hit in 2014,damaging the old airport, the new terminal is built tough . GMR officials say it can take wind speeds up to 275 km/h and heavy rain of 27 centimeters, much above Indian building standards for coastal areas.
As the airport opens,transport fares are being set. Expect to pay about ₹300 for an electric bus to Visakhapatnam,while cab rides will cost ₹700 to ₹1,500. Over 200,000 people anticipated for the inauguration,with police on hand for crowd control.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu called the airport a dream realized for Andhra Pradesh,a symbol of hope and hard work. Proud to see it grow over two years,he stressed its potential to unlock new opportunities for the region.
As the airport starts operations,it's set to shake up Andhra Pradesh's aviation scene, boosting trade and connectivity while lifting the local economy .
