Vizianagaram (Andhra Pradesh), Jan 3 (.) After a long wait, the dream of the people of Uttarandhra is becoming a reality as the Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport in Vizianagaram district is ready for its trial run on Sunday. The first commercial aircraft is scheduled to land at the airport tomorrow as part of the trial operations.
An aircraft of the Air India Group will depart from Delhi at 11:00 AM, carrying union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu, and land at Bhogapuram.
Officials stated that if the trial run is successful, regular commercial flight operations are expected to begin from May this year.
Discussions with various aviation institutions and service providers are already underway to start operations.
The airport has been named after legendary freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, honoring his contribution to India’s freedom struggle.
The foundation stone for the prestigious project was laid by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on May 3, 2023.
Although the project was initially scheduled for completion by December 2026, it has been completed much earlier than expected, with operations likely to begin this year itself.
According to government officials, 91.7 percent of the work has been completed.
The first phase of the project has been built at a cost of ₹4,592 crore.
In its initial year, the airport is expected to handle nearly 60 lakh passengers, with advanced paperless entry using facial recognition technology.
More than 10 aerobridges have been installed to facilitate smooth passenger movement.
The airport currently has the capacity to handle 60 lakh passengers annually, which can be expanded in the future to accommodate up to 1.8 crore passengers.
With a runway length of 3.8 kilometers, the airport is capable of handling wide-body aircraft.
Apart from passenger traffic, the airport is expected to play a major role in boosting pharmaceutical, marine, and textile exports.
Facilities for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) will also be available. Officials believe the airport will significantly promote temple tourism, eco-tourism, and beach tourism in the region.
Once operational, Bhogapuram Airport is expected to provide direct international connectivity to destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other Gulf countries, along with Singapore, Malaysia, and other Asian nations.
In the future, the chances of direct connections to the United States and European countries are also expected to increase.
The project is being developed by GMR Group, and officials say the airport will transform Visakhapatnam and the surrounding regions into a major commercial and aviation hub in southern India.
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