Bhogapuram Intl airport on fast track for takeoff

Visakhapatnam: Work on the Bhogapuram International Airport is continuing at brisk pace to handle six million passengers per year in the first phase at an estimated cost of Rs 4,592 crore and enhance it to double the capacity to 12 million passengers in the next phase.

Located at a distance of 40 km from Visakhapatnam, 25 km from Vizianagaram and 60 km from Srikakulam, the airport construction work which has been entrusted to L&T, is continuing as per schedule, Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy, said after a review meeting with the top officials at the project site on Monday. Once fully completed with the completion of the third phase, it will have capacity to handle 18 million passengers.

The Visakhapatnam International Airport, which has connectivity to various destinations in India along with international flights to Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, will be shut down to civilian aircraft once Bhogapuram, a greenfield airport, is ready for commercial operations. Visakhapatnam airport is a civil enclave as it is located on INS Dega air station of the Indian Navy.

Jawahar Reddy asked the GMR officials to complete the project six months ahead of schedule. The project is scheduled to be completed within 36 months from the date of commencement of work. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had laid the foundation stone exactly a year ago after clearing legal hurdles in the allotment of land. While the YSRCP government opted to go for reverse tenders and reallot the project to GMR Group by reducing the project site to 2200 acres, the erstwhile TDP envisaged its development in 2700 acres. TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu had laid the stone for the first time ahead of 2019 general elections.

However, in the run-up to the 2024 general elections, both Reddy and Naidu, if elected to power, had promised to complete the project ahead of schedule. Naidu during the campaigning had alleged inordinate delay in completion of the project due to, what he said, ‘vindictive’ measures of the YSRCP government.

The greenfield airport is being built under the aegis of GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd, one of the leading airport developers globally. The project, according to GMR Group, will generate about six lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities, provide improved connectivity, attract investments from businesses and industries from across the world, create opportunities for tourism and contribute to the overall development of the region.

As per the concession agreement, GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd will design, build, finance and operate the international airport for an initial term of 40 years. The first phase of the project is expected to be constructed in three years. The airport will also have a dedicated state-of-the-art cargo terminal catering to exports, aerotropolis and an airport city within the vicinity, ensuring world-class facilities for efficient cargo operations.