Bhogapuram greenfield airport ready, awaiting PMO clearance

Visakhapatnam: The Alluri Sitarama Raju Greenfield International Airport at Bhogapuram is likely to be inaugurated in the third or fourth week of July, instead of the first week as was earlier expected.The airport construction has been completed by the GMR Group. GMR Group chairman GM Rao performed special poojas at the airport from June 30 to July 2 along with his family. The facility has already come under the purview of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) for security and regulatory oversight. GMR Group has informed Union civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu that the airport is ready for operations.There was speculation that the airport would be commissioned in June. However, during an inspection last month, Rammohan Naidu stated that the facility would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July.While the minister has said that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will decide the inauguration date, several road connectivity projects leading to the airport are still being completed. Local authorities have accelerated road-widening and development works.

About seven roads connecting to the National Highway and another 12 to 15 roads linking key areas are being widened and upgraded.GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg told TOI that two important road projects within city limits are underway. The Vepagunta–Pinagadi road has already been completed, and streetlights are being installed along the stretch. Work on the Vepagunta–Juttada corridor faced delays as a portion of the road falls under forest land.

However, necessary permissions have recently been obtained, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of July.“We are setting up air-conditioned bus lounges jointly with APSRTC and the GMR Group. Permission has been granted to APSRTC to construct these lounges at eight locations between Visakhapatnam city and the airport. We are also installing signages at 28 locations,” Garg said.VMRDA chairperson Pranav Gopal said the authority is developing four key roads, with more than 80% of the work already completed. He said permissions have been sought from the Central government to widen a stretch passing through forest land on the Sontyam–Adavivaram road and expressed confidence that the project would be finished by the end of the month.