Vasu Potnuru Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnamis poised to enter a new era in the aviation sector, with the existing city airport set to be transformed into a regional aviation, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), cargo and business aviation hub.

This would become a reality soon after commercial operations commence at the upcoming Alluri Sitarama Raju Greenfield International Airport in Bhogapuram. As commercial flight services are expected to gradually shift to Bhogapuram, the state government is preparing an ambitious roadmap to ensure the Visakhapatnam Airport continues to play a strategic role in the region’s economic growth.

The state government owns 366 acres of prime land at the existing Visakhapatnam Airport premises. Officials said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has a comprehensive plan for its future utilisation. The land is expected to be developed into a specialised aviation ecosystem that will strengthen Visakhapatnam’s position as a key aviation and logistics destination on the east coast.

Sharing his views at the Airport Advisory Committee meeting, Visakhapatnam Member of Parliament M Sribharat mentioned that the government would focus on the long-term development of the existing airport once the Bhogapuram International Airport becomes operational and passenger traffic increases. He emphasised that the city airport would continue to serve the region through specialised aviation services, cargo handling and maintenance operations.

Airport Advisory Committee member O Naresh Kumar expressed gratitude to the Members of Parliament who had contributed significantly to the existing airport, transforming it into one of the most important aviation centres along the east coast.

Recalling the airport’s growth journey, Naresh Kumar said former Visakhapatnam Member of Parliament Daggubati Purandeswariplayed a pivotal role in securing international status for the airport. She was instrumental in establishing international connectivity to Singapore, making the airport operational round the clock by taking up the recruitment ban issue with the Union Finance Minister, and obtaining full Airports Authority of India and CISF sanctions for the airport. During the tenure of former Visakhapatnam MP K Haribabu, domestic flight operations increased significantly from around 50-60 flights a day to nearly 80-90 flights.

Former Visakhapatnam Member of Parliament M V V Satyanarayana contributed to expanding the airport’s international footprint by facilitating new flight services to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, besides improving domestic connectivity to major destinations such as Delhi and Hyderabad through additional flight frequencies.

Visakhapatnam Member of Parliament M Sribharat has been instrumental in restoring international flight operations to Abu Dhabi and launching domestic cargo services from Visakhapatnam. He also led the rehabilitation efforts for airport employees affected by the transition to Bhogapuram Airport. For employees who could not relocate, Sribharat coordinated with hotel associations, farmers’ associations and the IT industry to help secure alternative employment opportunities within Visakhapatnam.

Outlining the region’s future prospects, Naresh Kumar said the commissioning of Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport, coupled with the proposed CII Partnership Summit scheduled for November-December 2026, is expected to unlock enormous employment and investment opportunities across North Andhra. He said sectors such as data centres, artificial intelligence, green hydrogen, steel, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors are likely to witness significant growth in the coming years.