Centre Clears Aerodrome Licence for Bhogapuram Airport

Visakhapatnam:Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu has announced that the critical aerodrome licence required to start commercial operations at Bhogapuram Airport has been issued.

He said this clearance was granted after multiple inspections and reviews of the construction work over the past month, confirming that all aspects were thoroughly verified. This decision reflects the Centre's commitment to good governance and the state's development, he claimed.

Meanwhile, arrangements are being made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the airport in July. Chief minister Chandrababu has written to the PM and is awaiting confirmation of the schedule.

The Union minister stated that operations from the Visakhapatnam airport would be transitioned to Bhogapuram within a week of the inauguration.

On July 7, Rammohan Naidu inspected the construction progress and noted that the project is on track to be completed ahead of schedule, within two years, thanks to the accelerated pace of work. He expressed gratitude to the public and stakeholders for their cooperation.

The terminal, covering 78,000 square feet, has been designed to resemble a flying fish, reflecting the local coastal culture. Its interiors showcase the arts, traditions and heritage of Uttarandhra, with the minister expressing confidence that it would become one of the best airports in the country.

The facility is designed to accommodate 6 million passengers annually, doubling the capacity of Visakhapatnam airport.

The master plan allows for phased expansion to serve 40 million passengers eventually. Drawing a parallel to Shamshabad airport, which replaced Begumpet and now supports 300,000 jobs, the minister noted the aviation sector's potential to catalyse growth in other industries.

"Road connectivity has been strengthened, with several routes widened to improve access. The highways ministry has approved a six-lane coastal corridor linking Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram, with construction set to begin soon," said Rammohan.

According to the minister, the airport is expected to transform north Andhra into a logistics hub, managing cargo for the aqua, pharmaceutical, mango, and horticulture sectors. A Maintenance, Repair, and Operations facility will be established to service both domestic and international aircraft.

Plans are also in progress to train local youth through institutions in the upcoming ‘Educity,’ enabling them to seize employment opportunities.