Andhra Pradesh: CM Jagan Mohan Reddy Lays Foundation Stone For Bhogapuram International Greenfield Airport

The long-awaited dream of Northern Andhra people for aerial connectivity will soon come to fruition as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation for the Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport today (3 May).

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 4,592 crore. The airport is located about 50 km from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam in Vizianagaram district.

Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Ltd. (APADCL), formerly known as Bhogapuram International Airport Corporation Ltd (BIACL) is set up for speedy implementation of the Bhogapuram Airport Project comprising an International Airport, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and an Aviation Academy.

GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd (GVIAL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of GMR Airports Ltd (GAL), is the Concessionaire for the development and operations of Bhogapuram Airport near Visakhapatnam.

The project involves the design, build, finance, construction, development, operation and maintenance of the airport for a period of 40 years, extendable by additional 20 years.

Andhra Pradesh Industries and IT Minister Gudivada Amarnath explained that out of 2,700 acre, the airport will occupy 2,200 acre and the remaining 92 acre will be used for developing an IT City, an 'Aero City,' and other things.

Bhogapuram International Airport will be a Smart Airport with an inclusive approach to environmental sustainability and regional social development.

“The airport will also be a new generation, a technology-enabled airport that will provide an enhanced passenger experience,” officials explained, reports The New Indian Express.

An international and domestic freight terminal measuring 5,000 sq m, would be part of the project's first phase.

The project will accommodate six million passengers yearly and is estimated to be completed in 36 months. Facilities will be improved gradually to handle more than 1.8 crore passengers annually, with a focus on the expansion of passenger traffic.

In order to reduce traffic congestion along the National roadway's Visakhapatnam-Bhogapuram section, the government would construct a 55 km long, Rs 6,300 crore, six-lane roadway.

The greenfield airport was proposed in Bhogapuram after Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation in 2014. The previous TDP government facilitated the acquisition of 2,700 acre of land and entrusted it to the GMR Group for the project.

Project Rehabilitation

According to a State government official, the land acquisition, tender process, and legal issues related to National Green Tribunal and courts have been resolved successfully.

The rehabilitation colonies in Gudepuvalasa and Lingalavalasa now have all the necessary facilities like roads, drains, water tanks, electricity, community buildings, Anganwadi centres, primary schools, and parks.

About 376 families from Rellipeta, Mudasarlapeta, Bollinkalapalem, and Maradapalem villages have been compensated and are gradually moving to their new homes in the two centres.

Significance of the project

Located almost equidistant between Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram, the Bhogapuram airport is being constructed in a strategic location. This new airport is set to serve not only the residents of North Coastal Andhra but also those from the hinterland of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, as well as improve the cargo movement from these regions.

There is significant potential for the export of shrimp, bulk drugs, agriculture products, and cashew from this region.

The airport is expected to provide jobs for roughly 5,000 people, both directly and indirectly.

“The world-class facility is expected to increase connectivity between North Andhra and various parts of the world, resulting in an impetus to the growth of industries and service sector in the region, besides increase in revenue to the exchequer,” officials explained.

The beach corridor development is underway, in proximity to the proposed International Airport in Bhogapuram, which will provide impetus to retail and hospitality developments in the region.