GMR Airport at Bhogapuram completes successful maiden validation flight

Bhogapuram (Vizianagaram dist): In a big leap forward to propel economic prosperity in the proposed Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER), GMR Aero-led GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited (GAL), on Sunday successfully conducted the first commercial validation flight at the upcoming Bhogapuram Airport.

This is a major milestone towards making VER as envisioned by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu. The Minister along with the senior officials from Civil Aviation Ministry, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and GMR Group arrived in the Air India flight from New Delhi. As the flight touched down the sprawling runway capable of handling widebody aircraft, there were loud cheers among the select crowd present at the airport. The airport is named as Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport.

The successful flight validates the airport’s airside infrastructure, navigational aids, runway systems, and operational readiness, in line with the regulatory requirements laid down by the DGCA.The maiden commercial flight validation is a crucial step in the process of acquiring an aerodrome licence and a critical prerequisite before the commencement of commercial flight operations.

The airport first phase is developed at a cost of Rs4,592 crore by awarding the EPC contract to L&T. Though it is scheduled for completion in December, 2026, due to pressure from the State Government, the project proponent agreed to advance it by six months.

Later Rammohan Niadu told the media that their aim is to make Bhogapuram a major aviation hub with a world-class Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) facility and an aero city. He said they are on a massive expansion of the existing fleet and creating the required infrastructure, stating that the present fleet of 843 aircraft is being increased by 80 this year and 106 next year. He said under UDAAN tier two and three towns and cities are also getting connected. The size of the fleet is now not much compared to China and the United States, who each have around 4,000 aircraft.

In his remarks, Rammohan Naidu, said, “Today marks a historic milestone in the development journey of Andhra Pradesh. Visakhapatnam is set to become the economic capital of the East.” He said the Bhogapuram Airport will serve as a powerful engine of growth—creating employment opportunities, catalysing regional industries, and significantly enhancing connectivity for people and businesses alike. The airport, he said, will strengthen trade, boost exports, and unlock the immense tourism potential of Andhra Pradesh.

With world-class infrastructure, this project will accelerate economic development, attract investment, and place the region firmly on the global aviation and commerce map, he stated.

The Minister thanked all the stakeholders for their commitment and timely execution of this nationally important project, which aligns with the Government of India’s vision of building modern, inclusive, and growth-oriented aviation infrastructure that benefits every citizen.

Business Chairman, Airports, GMR Group GBS Raju, said, “The Bhogapuram International Airport is a reflection of GMR Group’s long-standing commitment to creating world-class national assets that catalyse economic growth and regional development.” He said for over two decades, the group has played a pioneering role in building and operating some of India’s most iconic airports, transforming aviation infrastructure through scale, sustainability and passenger-centric design.