Construction work on the international airport at Bhogapuram near Visakhapatnam is picking up speed.
The stage is set for the landing of the first test flight at Bhogapuram International Airport on January 4, 2026 (Sunday).
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu is scheduled to fly in an Air India flight from New Delhi to the new airport, located about 50 km from Visakhapatnam.
The Union Minister will be accompanied by MP for Vizianagaram Kalisetty Appala Naidu, officials from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Initial obstacles
The government gave the green light to the construction of the airport in 2015. Problems in acquiring land due to initial opposition from farmers led to delays in the completion of the project.
About 95% of the work is now complete, only minor work is pending. Officials plan to start regular commercial flight operations from June 2026.
The need for an alternative
The need for the construction of an alternative airport to the existing Visakhapatnam International Airport was felt due to restrictions on the allocation of slots for commercial flights by the Indian Navy, which controls the airport. The Navy uses the airfield to impart pilot training to meet its own requirements, and the remaining slots are allocated to airline operators for their civilian operations.
There are cases of air operators, including international operators, avoiding the airport because their requests for slots at certain hours of the day have been denied because the Navy requires them for its own operations. Commercial airline operators struggle to maintain their operations based on traffic volume and profitability.
A view of the runway at the Greenfield International Airport in Bhogapuram near Visakhapatnam.
The issue reached its peak during the earlier tenure of the Chandrababu Naidu government, which brought it to the attention of the Centre, which then agreed to build an airport in Bhogapuram in October 2016.
The airport is being built by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL) in an area of 2,203 acres. The length of the track is 3.8 km.
Exterior view of the green field international airport at Bhogapuram near Visakhapatnam.
Delay in laying driveways
While the construction of the airport is progressing at a brisk pace, the major cause of concern is the delay in the completion of the approach road from National Highway-16 to the airport and the proposed six-lane beach road from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram to ensure easy access for travelers from Anakapalli, Gajuwaka and other areas in the city.
“We have met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and sought access from NH-16 at one or two places near Tagarapuvalasa for the convenience of airport passengers. VMRDA has also acquired land for construction of eight main roads to the airport,” Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat said.
Published – 03 Jan 2026 19:56 IST
