Bhogapuram airport works to be completed by June 2026: Rammohan Naidu

Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu on Saturday said the international airport under construction at Bhogapuram is expected to be ready by June 2026. He noted that the work is progressing according to the schedule set by the Union and State governments.

The Minister reviewed the construction and expressed satisfaction with the pace of work. Speaking to the media, he said the project would boost economic activity and provide passengers with a seamless travel experience.

Officials from GMR Group informed him that construction has stayed on track despite heavy rains over the past two months. Additional manpower has been deployed to accelerate work and ensure the airport begins operations as planned.

According to Mr. Rammohan Naidu, 86% of the construction is complete. The runway and terminal buildings are nearly ready, and access roads are being built on a war footing. Passengers from Visakhapatnam are expected to benefit from faster connectivity, with junction improvements planned between the city and the new airport.

Road widening is underway in Bhimili, Thallavalasa, Paradesipalem, Anandapuram, Vepagunta, and other areas to ease traffic congestion. “The government has proposed a metro corridor between Visakhapatnam and Bhogapuram, along with a six-lane beach corridor between Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam to ensure quicker vehicle movement. A Detailed Project Report is being prepared for this,” the Minister said.

He expressed optimism that passenger traffic could rise to 60 lakh per year, compared with the current 32.4 lakh from Visakhapatnam airport.

The Minister also highlighted the planned development of IT parks around the airport, which he said would spur further economic activity. He commended IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh for assisting Indian travellers stranded in Nepal during recent unrest.

Vizianagaram Collector S. Rama Sundar Reddy, in-charge Joint Collector S. Srinivasa Murthy, and other officials accompanied the Minister during his visit.