Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport

This article is about the upcoming airport in the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region. For the current operational airport, see Visakhapatnam Airport.

Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport Allūri Sītārāma Rāju Antarjātīya Vimānāśrayaṁ
Aerial view of the site as of April 2025 [update]
IATA: VOX ICAO: VOVI
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner/Operator	Government of Andhra Pradesh GMR Group
Serves	Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region
Location	Bhogapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Elevation  AMSL	59 ft / 18 m
Coordinates	17°58′34″N083°30′14″E / 17.97611°N 83.50389°E / 17.97611; 83.50389
Website	Visakhapatnam Airport
Map
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport Show map of Andhra Pradesh Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 10/28 3,800 12,467 Asphalt

Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport( IATA : VOX, ICAO : VOVI), also known as Bhogapuram Airport, is an under construction greenfield airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The airport is intended to serve the North Andhra region and is located off the National Highway 16, about 45 km (28 mi) from Visakhapatnam. It is being developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited, a subsidiary of GMR Group. In September 2024, the upcoming airport was named after Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju. The first phase of the project is being developed at a cost of ₹45.92 billion (US$540 million), and is expected to be completed in 2026.

History

Background

The North Andhra region is served by the Visakhapatnam Airport, which operates as a civil enclave at INS Dega, a naval air station of the Indian Navy. It is designated as a customs airport, and is permitted to operate only limited international flights. ^{[1] [2]} The Indian navy had stated that it is unable to allocate more slots for commercial flights at the airport due to its increased utilisation for military activities. ^[3] Initial proposal for constructing a Greenfield airport at Visakhapatnam was mooted as early as 1997, with various sites such as Sabbavaram, Achyutapuram and Koruprolu being validated for the same. ^[4]

Planning and development

In June 2015, the Airports Authority of India gave its technical approval for the site at Bhogapuram. ^{[5] [6]} The site is located off the National Highway 16, about 45 km (28 mi) from Visakhapatnam. ^[7] 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. ^[8] The project was approved by the state government in September 2016, and the airport was planned to be developed under a public–private partnership basis. ^[9] The airport got environmental clearance in August 2017, ^[10] and the bids for the development of the airport were submitted in the same month. ^[11] The foundation stone for the airport was laid by the then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 14 February 2019. ^{[12] [13] [14]} 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. ^[15]

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. ^{[16] [17]} In 2022, the state government signed an agreement with the navy to move the civilian operations from the Visakhapatnam airport to the planned new airport in phases over the next 30 years. ^{[18] [19]} As of September 2022 ^[update] , most of the land acquisition had been completed, with only 28 acres (11 ha) pending to be acquired. ^[20] The airport was planned to be developed in three phases, with the first phase projected to cost ₹45.92 billion (US$540 million). ^{[21] [22]} Upon the completion of the first phase, the airport is expected to be able to handle 6.3 million passengers annually, which is expected to increase to 12 and 18 million after the completion of the second and third phases respectively. ^[16]

Construction

Progress of construction

After the land acquisition was completed, then state chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy re-laid the foundation stone for the project on 3 May 2023. ^[23] The construction officially began later that year in November 2023, with Larsen & Toubro being awarded the contract for the civil works by the GMR group. ^{[24] [25]} The first phase of the airport is projected to be completed by 2026. ^[26] In September 2024, the state government announced that the airport would be named after Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju. ^{[27] [28] [29]} In November 2024, Tata group announced plans for commercial development near the airport and sought land for the same from the government. ^[30] On 4 January 2026, the first validation flight landed at the airport as part of the requirement for obtaining an operating license. ^[31]

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). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
3. "No more flight slots at Vizag airport: Navy". The Times of India . 22 December 2022. 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. "NAAI nod for Bhogapuram Airport Plan, says Minister". The Hindu . 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
6. "AP plans aerotropolis at Bhogapuram". The Times of India . 14 March 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
7. "Bhogapuram Airport to Boost Real Estate Sector". Deccan Chronicle . 22 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
8. "Bhogapuram: suitable package for ryots being evolved, says C.M." The Hindu . 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
9. "Andhra Pradesh: Govt panel clears three new airports in Andhra Pradesh". The Times of India . 26 September 2016.
10. "Green Nod to Rs 2000 crore Bhogapuram International Airport project in Andhra Pradesh". NDTV . 21 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
11. "Airports Authority of India, GMR in race to bag Bhogapuram airport project". The Times of India . 20 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
12. "Chief minister Chandrababu laid Foundation stone for Bhogapuram International Airport near Vizag". The News Minute. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
13. Rao, K. Srinivasa (5 November 2022). "Andhra Pradesh government gearing up to lay foundation stone for Bhogapuram international airport". The Hindu . ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 15 April 2023.
14. Talari, Yadedya (15 February 2019). "CM Chandrababu Naidu lays foundation stone for Bhogapuram airport". Hans India . Retrieved 15 April 2023.
15. t "Cabinet fixes 2,200 acres of land for Bhogapuram airport project". The New Indian Express . 5 March 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
16. "The first phase of the development of Bhogapuram International Greenfield Airport set in motion". Press Information Bureau (Press release). Retrieved 31 July 2025.
17. "Andhra Pradesh government drops aerotropolis in Vizag,airport alone to be built". The Economic Times . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
18. "The first phase of the development of Bhogapuram International Greenfield Airport set in motion". Press Information Bureau (Press release). 4 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
19. "Bhogapuram Airport to start soon". Eenadu (in Telugu). 5 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
20. "Top priority to early completion of land acquisition for Bhogapuram Airport at Bhogapuram". The Hindu . 20 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
21. "First commercial validation flight lands at Alluri Sitarama Raju (Bhogapuram) International Airport". The New Indian Express . 4 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
22. "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 . Retrieved 15 May 2023.
23. "Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy lays foundation stone for Bhogapuram airport". The Times of India . 4 May 2023. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 20 April 2025.
24. "L&T Awarded Vizag Bhogapuram Airport's Construction Contract". The Metro Rail Guy. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
25. "Andhra Pradesh: Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport work begins". The New Indian Express . Retrieved 31 July 2025.
26. "Andhra's Bhogapuram airport's ongoing rapid progress". The Financial Express . 7 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
27. "AP cabinet approves new liquor policy, renaming airport". The Siasat Daily. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
28. Ilyas, M. D. (19 September 2024). "AP Cabinet Approves New Liquor Policy, 10% Shops to Kallu Geethas". Deccan Chronicle . Retrieved 19 September 2024.
29. "'Bhogapuram Airport will be opened six months before scheduled construction'". The Times of India . 19 September 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 19 September 2024.
30. Rao, K. Srinivasa (12 November 2024). "Star hotels, resorts likely to come up near Bhogapuram international airport". The Hindu . ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 25 November 2024.
31. "GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport successfully conducts validation flight at Bhogapuram". The Economic Times . 4 January 2026. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 4 January 2026.