Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Andhra Pradesh to Open August 1, Flights Shift August 17
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, also known as Bhogapuram Airport, on 1 August. The airport, built at an estimated cost of roughly ₹4.75 billion crore and completed in 31 months, features a 3,800‑metre runway, a cargo terminal for 25,000 tonnes and a design inspired by a flying fish. It will initially handle about 6 million passengers a year, with plans to expand capacity to 40 million.
From 00:01 hours on 17 August, all scheduled commercial flights will move from the civil enclave at Visakhapatnam Airport (INS Dega) to the new facility, and the international air‑transport code “VTZ” will be transferred to Bhogapuram. The shift marks a major change in air connectivity for North Andhra, expected to boost tourism, trade and employment.
Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress Party accused the ruling Telugu Desam Party and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of trying to claim credit for the airport, stating that the YSRCP government carried out land acquisition, financing and other key work, spending nearly ₹1,200 crore on the project.
Entities: Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport · GMR Group · N. Chandrababu Naidu · Narendra Modi · YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] All scheduled commercial flights will shift from Visakhapatnam Airport to the new airport on 17 August at 00:01. (multiple articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport on 1 August. (multiple articles)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The airport cost approximately ₹4.75 billion crore to build. (multiple articles)
- [● 2 SOURCES] YS Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the TDP and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of taking credit for the airport, saying the YSRCP completed the key groundwork and spent nearly ₹1,200 crore. (articles fb8f2b53-03d6-4f8f-b7d8-641ec6cbb8f3 and d2e1d075-99d6-4388-899a-9467910b4580)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The airport can handle 6 million passengers annually in its first phase, with a future capacity of up to 40 million passengers. (article d4835ef7-3782-43c6-bff6-d7efccc87ca4)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The International Air Transport Code “VTZ” for Visakhapatnam Airport will be transferred to the new Bhogapuram airport on 17 August. (article d4835ef7-3782-43c6-bff6-d7efccc87ca4)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The airport is named Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The airport was completed in 31 months, about five months ahead of schedule. (article d4835ef7-3782-43c6-bff6-d7efccc87ca4)