New Airport will transform Vizag into economic powerhouse: Naidu

Airport at a Glance:

• 100 % subsidiary of GMR Airports Ltd
• Propel growth in north Andhra
• Deadline for opening 2026
• 500 acres sought to be added

Visakhapatnam: Promising to fast-track the improvement of connectivity to Bhogapuram International Airport, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday advised the project proponent GMR Group to complete the construction ahead of schedule with clear timelines.

After an aerial survey of the airport construction, his first to North Andhra after taking over the reins of the State, he held a review meeting with the GMR Group, EPC contractor, NHAI, Airport Authority of India (AAI), Ministry of Civil Aviation and the district administration in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister and TDP leader K Rammohan Naidu and former Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

GMR International Airport Ltd (GVIAL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of GMR Airports Ltd (GAL), is the concessionaire for the development and operation of the airport. This will be GMR’s fourth major airport in India after Delhi, Hyderabad and Goa. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost Rs4,592 crore. Bhogapuram capacity will be doubled to 12 million passengers in the second phase.

Asked on delay in certain clearances for road connectivity projects, the Chief Minister said Rammohan Naidu will take up all the responsibility to clear the hurdles. He said the airport will propel growth in undivided Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts and provide employment opportunities to the youth and promised to activate a coordination committee headed by the Chief Secretary, in which representatives of various Central agencies are the members.

Gajapathi Raju wanted an allotment of 500 acres in addition to 2200 acres allotted to the project proponent during the erstwhile YSRCP Government. When Naidu laid the foundation for the airport project ahead of 2019 general elections, it was proposed to be developed in 2700 acres. The former Minister said the previous government set aside 500 acres and did not use an inch of it for any purpose. If that land is handed over to the airport, it will help in taking up the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) Complex. He also mooted developing two runways simultaneously like many international airports to avoid congestion in future.

During the meeting, some officials wanted fulfilment of MoU for shutting down Visakhapatnam International Airport for 30 years for civilian flights once Bhogapuram Airport starts operations. The airport in the city is a civil enclave located on INS Dega air station of the Indian Navy. All the flights now operated through Visakhapatnam Airport including flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok will be shifted to Bhogapuram once it starts commercial operations.