Infrastructure
Andhra Pradesh: Greenfield Bhogapuram International Airport On Track For Completion By 2025
The airport will mark GMR's fourth major airport in India, joining the ranks of those in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Goa.(Representative image/X)
Greenfield Bhogapuram International Airport in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh is on track for completion by 2025.
The airport is located about 50 km from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam. GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd (GVIAL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of GMR Airports Ltd (GAL), is the concessionaire for the development and operations of Bhogapuram Airport.
The project involves the design, finance, construction, development, operation and maintenance of the airport for 40 years, extendable by an additional 20 years.
The airport, spanning approximately 2,300 acres and with an estimated cost of Rs 4,750 crore, is poised to stimulate economic growth in North Andhra.
This new airport project, in the bustling coastal city of Andhra Pradesh, which also boasts a major port and a steel unit, is part of GMR's strategic push to expand its aviation infrastructure business.
On 20 May (Monday), Chief Secretary K S Jawahar Reddy directed officials and representatives of the GMR Group to expedite the construction of Bhogapuram International Airport.
During a review meeting, Reddy assessed the progress of ongoing works at the airport terminal, runway, and air traffic control centre. He also examined the overall project plans.
The airport is projected to handle 18 million passengers annually, a significant increase that promises to further stimulate regional development.
Significance
This airport is expected to play a pivotal role in the state's development and boost tourism in northern Andhra Pradesh.
This new airport is set to serve not only the residents of north coastal Andhra but also those from the hinterland of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, as well as improve the cargo movement from these regions.
There is significant potential for the export of shrimp, bulk drugs, agriculture products, and cashews from this region.
The airport is expected to provide jobs for roughly 5,000 people, both directly and indirectly.
The world-class facility is expected to increase connectivity between north Andhra and various parts of the world, resulting in an impetus to the growth of industries and service sector in the region, besides an increase in revenue to the exchequer.
