Officials said to complete the work at the Vijayawada airport terminal before Dasara

Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma on Wednesday directed officials to speed up the ongoing construction of a new integrated terminal at the Vijayawada International Airport in Gannavaram.

The Minister along with Vijayawada Member of Parliament Kesineni Sivanath reviewed the progress of works at the airport terminal with officials and the implementing authority.

The new integrated terminal is being built at an estimated cost of ₹ 824.28 crore and will cover 51,315 square meters. Once completed, the facility can handle 3.5 million passengers a year and accommodate up to 1,200 passengers at peak times, including 800 domestic and 400 international passengers.

According to officials, the facility will include 24 check-in counters, eight customs and immigration counters, six passenger boarding bridges, nine departure gates, 10 escalators, 19 elevators and parking space for 648 cars. An elevated 1,270-meter-long access road is also under construction to improve airport connectivity.

While the deadline for the project was set at November 10, 2026, with full operational readiness by December 31, 2026, the minister directed officials to ensure the completion of the terminal before the Dasara festival season.

The modernized airport would significantly boost international connectivity from Vijayawada, which currently has limited overseas services. The expansion work was done as part of the UDAN scheme, which aims to strengthen regional air connectivity across India, including airports and helipads in remote and tribal areas.

The Union Minister also mentioned the broader growth of the nation’s infrastructure, including the development of ports, railways, express corridors, Vande Bharat trains and highways, saying these initiatives are reshaping India’s connectivity.

The Bhogapuram International Airport project is also progressing rapidly and is expected to be commissioned soon, which will further strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s aviation network.

Published – 17 Jun 2026 18:46 IST