Test flight at greenfield Bhogapuram International Airport

5 JANUARY 2026

Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu oversaw the successful first test flight at the new Alluri Sitharama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh.
GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd. (GVIAL) is constructing the greenfield airport, around 50 km from Visakhapatnam city, on 2,200 acres at an estimated cost of ₹4,725 crore.
“The Centre will review the existing policy that bars the functioning of two airports within a 150-km radius,” Mr. Rammohan Naidu said.
Recalling the success story of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad in Telangana that was established on 5,000 acres of land, the Minister lauded the initiative taken by N. Chandrababu Naidu when he was the Chief Minister of unified Andhra Pradesh between 1995 and 2003.
Mr. Rammohan Naidu said, “The airport will strengthen trade, boost exports and unlock the immense tourism potential of Andhra Pradesh.”