Two lakh people to be mobilised for Bhogapuram airport inauguration

For the inauguration of the newly constructed Alluri Sitharama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, the State government is giving top priority to the direct involvement of people in the ceremony on August 1.

The government is planning to mobilise at least two lakh people for the event. Chief Minister and TDP national president N. Chandrababu Naidu has asked all MLAs to mobilise the maximum number of people for the function, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting. The legislators were asked to supervise transport for the people and make the public meeting a success.

The TDP high command appointed observers for every Assembly constituency in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Ministers Kondapalli Srinivas, Kolusu Parthasarathy, B.C. Janardhan Reddy, Vangalapudi Anitha and others are holding review meetings in the respective constituencies to assess the preparedness for the function. Rajam MLA Kondru Murali said people from all walks of life were keen to take part in the public meeting and see the facilities at the new airport. He said everyone in the north Andhra region was connected emotionally to the airport, since it would spur economic activity and benefit them directly and indirectly.

With three days left for the function, the government is monitoring the final phase of works at the airport. It has asked the GMR group to complete all pending works by July 30, so that there is no confusion in the remaining two days. Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy and other senior officials are reviewing the arrangements at the main venue, where nearly 13,000 students would welcome the Prime Minister with the Dhimsa dance.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu and Minister for Education Nara Lokesh have been visiting the airport almost every alternate day to oversee the arrangements. It is the first major inaugural function in the State since the NDA came to power in 2024.

Gateway for economic development

Minister for Information and Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathy said on Tuesday that the Alluri Sitarama Raju airport at Bhogapuram would be a new gateway for the economic development of Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference on the airport premises, he said the government had attracted investments worth ₹6.12 lakh crore, and that 189 development projects were being taken up. He said the airport would be a game changer, with development activity coming up in and around the region.

Mr. Parthasarathy said other States were struck by the pace of progress in Andhra Pradesh over the last two years, and that nearly five lakh jobs would be created through development work in north Andhra, Rayalaseema, Amaravati and other regions. In an indirect reference to the YSR Congress Party, he said the Opposition was unable to digest the progress made and the speed of the government’s decisions.

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