Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport

Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
The airport site in May 2026
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerAndhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Limited
OperatorGMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited
ServesVisakhapatnam Metropolitan Region
LocationBhogapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Opened17 August 2026 (2026-08-17)
Elevation AMSL18 m (59 ft)
Coordinates17°58′34″N 083°30′14″E / 17.97611°N 83.50389°E / 17.97611; 83.50389
WebsiteAlluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Map
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is located in Andhra Pradesh
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Location within Andhra Pradesh
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is located in India
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport
Location within India
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 3,800 12,467 Asphalt

Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport (IATA: VTZ, ICAO: VOVI) is an international airport located at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The airport is located off the National Highway 16, about 45 km (28 mi) from Visakhapatnam and serves the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region.

The airport was developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited, a subsidiary of GMR Group. In September 2024, the airport was named after Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju. The first phase of the project was developed at a cost of ₹45.92 billion (US$480 million). The airport was inaugurated on 1 August 2026 and was opened for commercial operations on 17 August 2026.

History

Background

The North Andhra region was previously served by a civil enclave, operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at INS Dega, a naval air station of the Indian Navy. It was a designated customs airport, and was permitted to operate only limited international flights.[1][2] The Indian Navy had stated that it was unable to allocate additional slots for commercial flights at the airport due to its increased utilisation for military activities.[3] A greenfield airport for Visakhapatnam was planned by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1997 and apart from Bhogapuram, alternative sites like Sabbavaram, Achyutapuram, and Koruprolu were also considered for the project.[4]

Planning and development

In the 2015-16 budget, the state government, led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, proposed a greenfield airport at Bhogapuram.[5] The site was located off the National Highway 16, about 45 km (28 mi) from Visakhapatnam.[6] The Airports Authority of India gave its technical approval for this site in June 2015.[7][8] The opposition, led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, challenged the proposal arguing it as detrimental to farmers, and advocated for expanding the existing airport instead.[9][10] Despite opposition from a section of farmers,[11] the Ministry of Civil Aviation cleared the project in December 2015.[12]

By March 2016, the state government had acquired 2,703 acres (1,094 ha) of land for the project, and further acquisition of land was delayed due to agitation from locals.[13] The project was approved by the state government in September 2016, and was to be developed on a public–private partnership basis.[14] The airport received environmental clearance in August 2017,[15] and the bids for its development were submitted in the same month.[16] The foundation stone for the airport was laid by the then chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on 14 February 2019.[17][18][19] In March 2020, the state government allocated 2,200 acres (890 ha) for the development of the airport, while keeping aside 500 acres (200 ha) of land for future development.[20]

The contract for the development and operations of the airport was awarded to GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), a special-purpose entity owned by the GMR Group, which was set up in June 2020.[21][22] In 2022, the state government signed an agreement with the Indian Navy to transition civilian operations from the existing Visakhapatnam airport to the new airport in phases over the next 30 years.[23][24] The airport is being developed in three phases, with the first phase projected to cost ₹45.92 billion (US$480 million).[25][26] Upon the completion of the first phase, the airport is expected to be able to handle 6.3 million passengers annually, that will increase to 12 and 18 million after the completion of the second and third phases, respectively.[21] After the land acquisition was completed, then state chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy re-laid the foundation stone for the project on 3 May 2023.[27]

Construction and opening

Aerial view of the site as of April 2026
Aerial view of the under construction passenger terminal as of May 2026

Construction officially began later that year in November 2023, with Larsen & Toubro being awarded the contract for the civil works by the GMR group.[28][29] In September 2024, the union minister for civil aviation said that the project would be completed six months ahead of schedule.[30] In September 2024, the state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, officially decided to name the facility after Alluri Sitarama Raju, the legendary Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter from the region.[31][32][33] In November 2024, Tata group announced plans for commercial development near the airport and sought land allotment from the government.[34]

On 4 January 2026, the first validation flight landed at the airport as part of the requirements for obtaining an operating license.[35] In July 2026, the airport received its aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and necessary clearances from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.[36][37] The airport was inaugurated on 1 August 2026,[38][39] while the commercial operations started on 17 August 2026.[40][41]

Facilities

Runway and parking bays

View of the runway

The airport has a single 3,800 m (12,500 ft) long and 45 m (148 ft) wide asphalt runway designated as 10/28 and equipped with a CAT I Instrument Landing System and VOR/DME.[42]: 14  There is a 240 m × 90 m (790 ft × 300 ft) run off area on either end of the runway.[42]: 9  The airport has a single main apron which has 14 parking bays numbered from 11 to 24. The main apron is connected by smaller taxiways B7 and B8 to the main taxiway. The main taxiway, designated as A, runs parallel to the runway, and has five approach ways to the main runway, which are designated as A3, A5, A7, A9, and A10. There are two parking bays for non-scheduled flights, an isolated parking bay for emergencies, and dedicated parking bays for cargo aircraft.[42]: 37 

Terminals

The passenger terminal is spread over an area of 77,342 m2 (832,500 sq ft) and has a capacity to handle six million passengers per annum. The terminal is equipped with 22 check-in counters and 18 baggage drop counters, apart from security screening, baggage handling, and immigration facilities.[43][44] There is a dedicated cargo terminal, which is spread over 5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft) and is capable of handling up to 25,000 metric tonnes of cargo annually.[45]

Airlines and destinations

Effective 17 August 2026, commercial flight services that were operated from the earlier Visakhapatnam airport were moved to this airport.[46]

AirlinesDestinations
Air India Delhi[47]
Air India Express Bengaluru,[48] Hyderabad,[49] Vijayawada[50]
IndiaOne Air Jeypore[51]
IndiGo Abu Dhabi,[52] Bengaluru,[53] Chennai,[53] Delhi,[53] Hyderabad,[53] Kolkata,[53] Navi Mumbai,[53] Tirupati[53]
Scoot Singapore[54]

References

  1. ↑ "INS Dega". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Visakhapatnam Airport (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  3. ↑ "No more flight slots at Vizag airport: Navy". The Times of India. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Balarama Krishna, R. V.; Durga Rani, K.; Gopala Raju, S. S. S. V. (2012). "Site suitability study for an International Airport in Visakhapatnam". Indian Journal of Education and Information Management. 1 (5): 203–206. ISSN 2277-5374 – via i-Scholar.
  5. ↑ "A.P. plans international airport near Vizag". The Hindu. 12 March 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Bhogapuram Airport to Boost Real Estate Sector". Deccan Chronicle. 22 July 2025. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "NAAI nod for Bhogapuram Airport Plan, says Minister". The Hindu. 23 June 2015. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "AP plans aerotropolis at Bhogapuram". The Times of India. 14 March 2015. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Jagan Again Flays AP Over Bhogapuram Airport Lands". The New Indian Express. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2026. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Jagan opposes Bhogapuram airport proposal". The Hindu. 23 April 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Bhogapuram ryots oppose airport proposal". The Hindu. 11 April 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Civil Aviation Ministry gives site clearance for Bhogapuram airport". The Hindu. 30 December 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Bhogapuram: suitable package for ryots being evolved, says C.M." The Hindu. 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh: Govt panel clears three new airports in Andhra Pradesh". The Times of India. 26 September 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "Green Nod to Rs 2000 crore Bhogapuram International Airport project in Andhra Pradesh". NDTV. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  16. ↑ "Airports Authority of India, GMR in race to bag Bhogapuram airport project". The Times of India. 20 August 2017. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  17. ↑ "Chief minister Chandrababu laid Foundation stone for Bhogapuram International Airport near Vizag". The News Minute. 15 February 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  18. ↑ Rao, K. Srinivasa (5 November 2022). "Andhra Pradesh government gearing up to lay foundation stone for Bhogapuram international airport". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  19. ↑ Talari, Yadedya (15 February 2019). "CM Chandrababu Naidu lays foundation stone for Bhogapuram airport". Hans India. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Cabinet fixes 2,200 acres of land for Bhogapuram airport project". The New Indian Express. 5 March 2020. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  21. 1 2 "The first phase of the development of Bhogapuram International Greenfield Airport set in motion". Press Information Bureau (Press release). Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  22. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh government drops aerotropolis in Vizag, airport alone to be built". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  23. ↑ "The first phase of the development of Bhogapuram International Greenfield Airport set in motion". Press Information Bureau (Press release). 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  24. ↑ "Bhogapuram Airport to start soon". Eenadu (in Telugu). 5 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "First commercial validation flight lands at Alluri Sitarama Raju (Bhogapuram) International Airport". The New Indian Express. 4 January 2026. Archived from the original on 14 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  26. ↑ "GMR Group to invest Rs 5,000 cr on Bhogapuram Airport in Andhra Pradesh: GM Rao". The Economic Times. 3 March 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  27. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy lays foundation stone for Bhogapuram airport". The Times of India. 4 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  28. ↑ "L&T Awarded Vizag Bhogapuram Airport's Construction Contract". The Metro Rail Guy. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 7 June 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  29. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh: Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport work begins". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  30. ↑ "'Bhogapuram Airport will be opened six months before scheduled construction'". The Times of India. 19 September 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  31. ↑ "AP cabinet approves new liquor policy, renaming airport". The Siasat Daily. 18 September 2024. Archived from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  32. ↑ Ilyas, M. D. (19 September 2024). "AP Cabinet Approves New Liquor Policy, 10% Shops to Kallu Geethas". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  33. ↑ "Bhogapuram Airport to be named after Alluri Seetharama Raju". Deccan Chronicle. 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  34. ↑ Rao, K. Srinivasa (12 November 2024). "Star hotels, resorts likely to come up near Bhogapuram international airport". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  35. ↑ "GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport successfully conducts validation flight at Bhogapuram". The Economic Times. 4 January 2026. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  36. ↑ "DGCA License For ASRIA". Tathya. 13 July 2026. Archived from the original on 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  37. ↑ "Bhogapuram airport operations likely to begin by August". The New Indian Express. 6 April 2026. Archived from the original on 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  38. ↑ Rao, K. Srinivasa (20 July 2026). "After 43 years, a PM to visit Vizianagaram: Modi to inaugurate Bhogapuram airport on August 1". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  39. ↑ "PM Modi inaugurates Rs 5,000 crore Bhogapuram Airport in Andhra Pradesh". The Times of India. 1 August 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 1 August 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  40. ↑ "Enter Bhogapuram, exit Visakhapatnam: Commercial flight services at Vizag Airport to be shut from Aug 17". Newsmeter. 29 July 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  41. ↑ Tripathi, Neha LM (29 July 2026). "Commercial ops to shift to Bhogapuram from Visakhapatnam Airport on August 17". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 29 July 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  42. 1 2 3 Aerodrome Data, Bhogapuram International Airport (VOVI) (PDF) (Report). Airports Authority of India. 29 April 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 July 2026. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  43. ↑ "Bhogapuram airport to begin commercial operations from August 17". The New Indian Express. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  44. ↑ "Air India to commence operations from Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram from 17 August". Air India (Press release). 16 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  45. ↑ "Bhogapuram airport cargo terminal launch likely in August-September". The Hindu. 28 May 2026. Archived from the original on 27 May 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  46. ↑ "All Visakhapatnam flights move to Bhogapuram from August 17, under code VTZ". The Hindu. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  47. ↑ "Air India shifts all Visakhapatnam flights to Bhogapuram airport from today". All India Radio. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  48. ↑ "Air India shifts all Vizag flights to Bhogapuram airport: Check details". Business Standard. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  49. ↑ "Air India Unveils Bhogapuram Flight Schedule". Deccan Chronicle. 1 August 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  50. ↑ "Air India Express Takes Off From Andhra Pradesh's New Bhogapuram Airport". Deccan Chronicle. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  51. ↑ "Vishakhapatnam (VTZ) to Jeypore (PYB) Flight Schedule". Flyteam. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  52. ↑ "Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport begins commercial operations". Indian Transport and Logistics News. 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  53. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "31 Flights To Operate From Andhra Pradesh's Bhogapuram Airport On First Day". ETV Bharat. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  54. ↑ "Advisory on Airport Change in Visakhapatnam (VTZ)". Scoot (Press release). 20 July 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
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