Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu at the terminal building of the Bhogapuram international airport in Vizianagaram district on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the new Bhogapuram International Airport near Visakhapatnam by the end of July 2026.
Mr. Rammohan Naidu held a review meeting with Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy, senior officials and representatives of the GMR international airport at the airport. He expressed happiness over the facilities provided for passengers at the lounge and other places. The officials told him that all statutory inspections and tests had been completed and the airport was ready for full-fledged operations. The Collector told the Minister that approach roads and other facilities had been provided for trouble-free travel to the airport.
The GMR Group constructed the airport at an estimated cost of ₹4,500 crore on 2,200 acres provided by the State government. The airport is about 60 km from the existing Visakhapatnam airport. The State government has built a new dedicated route via Visakhapatnam beach to Bhogapuram for faster travel to the new airport.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu reviews the construction of the Bhogapuram international airport in Vizianagaram district on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Speaking to the media here, Mr. Rammohan Naidu said the international airport would spur economic activity across the North Andhra region, being on the Visakhapatnam-Srikakulam highway and giving the best connectivity to Vizianagaram.
He said the User Development Fee (UDF) had been fixed after a thorough study of the airport’s viability and other factors. The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has allowed the GMR Group to collect ₹835 for departures and ₹355 for arrivals, and ₹1,255 for international departures and ₹545 for international arrivals. Air travellers’ associations have been asking the government to cut the UDF, as it is the highest of any airport in India.
A shifting date
The launch date has moved more than once. The State government had sought July 5, which passed without an inauguration. Talk on social media then settled on July 26, which officials say was never fixed. Telugu Desam Party sources now say a fresh date will come shortly, though the Prime Minister’s Office is yet to confirm one.
Published – July 07, 2026 02:09 pm IST
