The Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram is set to begin commercial operations from August 17, a milestone for aviation in north Andhra Pradesh.

With the transition, all scheduled domestic and international passenger services will move to the new facility, which GMR has positioned as the “Gateway of the East”.

Developed and operated by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the airport has been designed for long-term scalability and operational efficiency, the company said.

“From August 17, travellers will utilise the integrated terminal, which will officially operate under the IATA code VTZ,” as per the authorities concerned.

Terminal and capacity

The integrated passenger terminal spans 77,342 square metres, bringing together check-in, security screening, immigration, baggage handling and boarding. For smoother passenger flow, the facility has DigiYatra integration, e-gates and self-service kiosks, alongside advanced baggage handling systems.

The airport opens with a capacity of six million passengers a year, which is scalable to over 40 million. The airside infrastructure includes a 3,800-metre Code 4E runway, a parallel taxiway, rapid-exit taxiways and 18 aircraft stands designed to support heavy commercial traffic and future fleet expansion.

Technology in operations

Day-to-day management relies on digital integration. Smart airport systems, AI-enabled passenger services and the Airport Predictive Operations Centre (APOC) will provide real-time operational visibility and predictive analytics for decision-making, the statement said.

Reflecting regional heritage, the terminal’s architectural design draws inspiration from the locally found flying fish.

GMR said the transition was aimed at spurring regional growth by improving connectivity, boosting tourism, and opening up avenues for cargo, trade, investment and employment across the north Andhra region.

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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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram on August 1, 2026.

Mr. Modi’s visit will be only the second by a Prime Minister to Vizianagaram district in 43 years. Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister, addressed a Congress election meeting at the Maharaja Stadium in the Fort City in 1983. The GMR Group has built the airport at an estimated cost of ₹4,500 crore on 2,200 acres provided by the State government.

Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, MSME Minister Kondapalli Srinivas, Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy, Superintendent of Police A.R. Damodar and other senior officials reviewed the arrangements for the Prime Minister’s tour on Monday (July 20, 2026). Ms. Anitha directed police officials to ensure foolproof security arrangements in accordance with the guidelines of the Union government. Mr. Ramsundar Reddy said the pending works on the approach road had been completed, and vehicles would face no issue in entering the airport road from the NH.

Five places have been identified for the parking of nearly 6,000 vehicles. Heavy, continuous traffic on National Highway 16, which cannot be stopped or diverted, is a challenge for the police. Officials said security arrangements would be made without disturbing traffic on the NH-16 stretch connecting Chennai and Kolkata.