State Information and Housing Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy on Wednesday said that the upcoming Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram would serve as the ‘Gateway of Global Andhra’ and emerge as a catalyst for exports, tourism and industrial growth in north Andhra.
Addressing a press conference at the Visakha Press Club, the Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the greenfield airport and launch or lay the foundation stone for development projects worth ₹17,912 crore on August 1.
Mr. Parthasarathy said the airport had been designed in the shape of a flying fish, in keeping with environmental norms and reflecting the region’s cultural identity. Besides handling passenger traffic, it would have a cargo handling capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes, boosting exports and strengthening the region’s role in the global economy, he said.
The Minister said an aviation hub, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance facilities, a Skill Development Centre, an Aviation University, Edu City and other projects were planned alongside the airport to support industrial growth and equip local youth with industry-relevant skills.
He said the airport would help position north Andhra as a tourism and logistics hub while generating direct and indirect employment opportunities. The Minister also criticised the previous YSRCP government over its handling of development projects in the region.
Published – July 29, 2026 07:54 pm IST
