Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday.
The opening of the facility and the launch of accompanying infrastructure projects represent a strategic effort to transform North Andhra. By increasing connectivity and tourism, the government aims to stimulate long-term economic growth in the Vizianagaram district.
Also known as Bhogapuram Airport, the new international facility was built with an estimated cost ranging from ₹5,000 crore [1] to ₹5,640 crore [2]. The airport is designed to handle six million passengers per year [3], providing a significant upgrade to the region's aviation capacity.
Beyond the airport, Modi launched a series of development projects valued at over ₹17,900 crore [1], though some reports place the total at nearly ₹18,000 crore [4]. These investments are intended to modernize the region's infrastructure and improve the movement of goods and people.
The Prime Minister's visit to Andhra Pradesh included the unveiling of these projects as part of a broader effort to enhance connectivity. The administration said the initiatives would foster a historic transformation for the area, linking local industries to global markets more efficiently.
Local officials said the airport serves as a cornerstone for future industrialization. The integration of the new aviation hub with the wider ₹17,900 crore [1] investment package is expected to attract further private investment into the state.
“The airport is designed to handle six million passengers per year.”
The inauguration of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport signals a shift toward decentralizing economic activity in Andhra Pradesh. By establishing a high-capacity hub in the Vizianagaram district, the Indian government is attempting to reduce the reliance on existing urban centers and create a new economic corridor in North Andhra. The scale of the accompanying ₹17,900 crore investment suggests that the airport is not merely a transport project, but a catalyst for regional industrialization and foreign investment.
