PM Modi Likely to Open Bhogapuram Airport on July 5
The first validation flight at the Alluri Sitaramaraju International Airport landed on January 4, 2026, as part of the requirement for obtaining an operating licence
Visakhapatnam: Serious efforts are on to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Bhogapuram airport, officially known as the Alluri Sitaramaraju International Airport, on July 5.
Lok Sabha member from Visakhapatnam M. Sribharat told media recently that the state government is making plans to inaugurate the Greenfield International Airport on July 5.
According to official sources, the state government has sent four dates – July 5, July 8, August 17, and August 19 to the Prime Minister’s office. “But till now, we have not got any confirmation of the PM’s visit,” said Vizianagaram district collector S. Ram Sundar Reddy.
The announcement of international carrier SCOOT that it would operate its flights to Singapore from the new airport from July 8, instead of from Visakhapatnam Airport, have made government officials rush to settle for the inaugural date of July 5. The domestic operators are yet to announce their schedule of shifting to the Alluri Sitaramaraju International Airport.
In the interim, Indian Navy has also announced that it would take over the Visakhapatnam air space from July 9 onwards, restricting the civil air operations.
The first validation flight at the Alluri Sitaramaraju International Airport landed on January 4, 2026, as part of the requirement for obtaining an operating licence.
Union Civil Aviation minister K. Rammohan Naidu had recently said all roads connecting to the new international airport would be completed by June, so that there are no traffic hurdles in approaching the Alluri Sitaramaraju International Airport from Visakhapatnam.
Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Regional Development Authority is rushing to complete its first phase of the road network. A senior official said presently, the commuters would use the four-lane road from the trumpet of the airport connecting to the national highway, about 40 km from Visakhapatnam. The total distance from the airport to Visakhapatnam city would be around 50 km.
An official from VMRDA said seven roads are nearing completion, which would connect to the national highway leading to the airport. “The ambitious six-lane beach corridor from Visakhapatnam to the new international airport, currently under tender stage and being built by the National Highway Authority of India, would make the commuting easier and faster,’’ the official said.
Vizianagaram collector said they would be getting EV buses that would ply from the Alluri Sitaramaraju International Airport to Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.
