Bhogapuram Airport

GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport (also known as Bhogapuram Airport) is an international airport and a greenfield airport under construction at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north-east of Visakhapatnam.

GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorAndhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation
GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited
ServesVisakhapatnam
LocationBhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates18.0307°N 83.4937°E / 18.0307; 83.4937
WebsiteVisakhapatnam Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
— 12,467 3,800 —

Timeline

Planning (2015–2018)

There was a proposal for setting up a greenfield airport under the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh state at Visakhapatnam. Alternate sites like Bheemunipatnam, Sabbavaram, Atchutapuram, and Koruprolu were also considered. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) gave its technical approval of the project site in June 2015.[1] The request for proposals (RFP) for the project was issued in July 2016, and AAI and the GMR Group submitted their technical and financial bids in August 2017.[2]

The current Visakhapatnam Airport is a civil enclave on a naval airfield which operates only one international flight due to its status as a "restricted international airport", while the Navy proposed the flying slots for civilians in the existing airport and hence suffers from constraints.[3][4]

Pre-Construction (2019–2022)

The airport's foundation stone was laid by the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu on 14 February 2019,[5][6][7][8] with initial plans to develop the mega aerotropolis on an estimated 5,311 acres of land, consisting of Bhogapuram Airport, cargo facilities, an MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility and an aviation academy. The government has only acquired 2,703 acres of land because of land agitation from locals,[9] including 1,673 acres of government land allotted for the project.[10]

An in-principle approval has been granted for the project, that would be developed by the government of Andhra Pradesh under a PPP basis.[11] A pre-bid meeting was held in August 2018, for which 13 developers showed interest in developing this airport. The government finally approved the GMR Group,[12] who also operates the international airports of Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad.

However, the successive YSRCP government fixed 2,200 acres to GMR Group and reduced the land for the purpose while keeping aside 500 acres of land under the control of state government with no official reasons mentioned.[10] The airport would be constructed on a final 2,200-acre site in and around Bhogapuram that serves the city of Visakhapatnam. It would be built by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) owned by the GMR Group that was set up in June 2020.[13] The project would be taken up in the public–private partnership (PPP) mode with the state holding a stake in the form of land holdings.[14]

The proposed airport is 45 km away from Visakhapatnam, 25 km away from Vizianagaram and 63 km away from Srikakulam cities. The airport majorly serves the North Coastal Andhra region and is expected as a major source of employment in the region. The region is connected to the proposed airport by National Highway 16, National Highway 26 currently and also through Vizag beach corridor and Vizag metro in the future. While APSRTC plans to run connecting buses to nearby cities, Vizianagaram junction is the nearest railway station at a distance of 26 km.

Currently, one 3800m long runway of 12L / 30R orientation is being planned along with MRO facilities.

In September 2022, Indian Navy officials have agreed to move the Visakhapatnam Airport to Bhogapuram. Regarding this, Indian Navy and Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Limited (APADCL) officials has signed a MOU in New Delhi. On the other hand, only 28 more acres have to be collected for construction in Bhogapuram. The trial in the court cases on this issue has been completed and the verdict is in reserve.[15][16]

Construction (2023–present)

The foundation stone for the airport was re-laid on 3 May 2023[17] and as the construction begins, the project is expected to be completed by March 2025. The project is planned to be developed in 3-phased manner. Upon completion of Phase 1, the terminal handling capacity is expected to be 6 million passengers per year, and is further expected to rise to 12 million passengers per year upon completion of Phase 2. By the completion of the phase 3, the total passenger capacity is expected to touch 18 million passengers per year.[18] The phase 1 is estimated at a cost of Indian Rs.4592 Crores.[19][20]

See also

References
  1. "NAAI nod for Bhogapuram Airport Plan, says Minister". The Hindu. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  2. "Airports Authority of India, GMR in race to bag Bhogapuram airport project". The Times of India. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. "Greenfield International Airport to come up at Bhogapuram in Vizag". The Hindu Business Line. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  4. "Green Nod to Rs 2000 Crore Bhogapuram International Airport project in Andhra Pradesh". NDTV. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  5. "Chief minister Chandrababu laid Foundation stone for Bhogapuram International Airport near Vizag". www.thenewsminute.com. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  6. "Foundation stone laid for Bhogapuram Airport near Visakhapatnam". Vizag -. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  7. Rao, K. Srinivasa (5 November 2022). "Andhra Pradesh government gearing up to lay foundation stone for Bhogapuram international airport". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  8. Talari, Yadedya (15 February 2019). "CM Chandrababu Naidu lays foundation stone for Bhogapuram airport". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  9. "Bhogapuram: suitable package for ryots being evolved, says C.M." The Hindu. 1 September 2015.
  10. "Cabinet fixes 2,200 acres of land for Bhogapuram airport project". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. "Andhra Pradesh: Govt panel clears three new airports in Andhra Pradesh | Delhi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  12. "GMR bags the bid to build Bhogapuram airport in Vizag". Vizag -. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  13. "Andhra Pradesh government drops aerotropolis in Vizag,airport alone to be built". Economic Times.
  14. "AP plans aerotropolis at Bhogapuram". The Times of India. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  15. "Bhogapuram Airport to start soon". Eenadu. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  16. "Top priority to early completion of land acquisition for Bhogapuram Airport at Bhogapuram". The Hindu. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  17. "Bhogapuram airport stone-laying on May 3". The Times of India. 30 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  18. "The first phase of the development of Bhogapuram International Greenfield Airport set in motion". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  19. www.ETTravelWorld.com. "Bhogapuram Airport begins 1st phase development, to serve 6 mn passengers - ET TravelWorld". ETTravelWorld.com. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  20. "GMR Group to invest Rs 5,000 cr on Bhogapuram Airport in Andhra Pradesh: GM Rao". The Economic Times. 3 March 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
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