Construction Mirror Article detail

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy Wednesday laid the foundation for the Rs 4,592 crore Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport, 50 km from Visakhapatnam in Vizianagaram district. He said the airport would create a runway for the all-round development of the north Andhra region. The chief minister also virtually laid the foundation stones for Rs 194.40 crore drinking water project – Taraka Rama Thirtha Sagaram Project – and Rs 23.73 crore Chintapalli Fish Landing Centre in the district. The CM reiterated his commitment to the decentralized development of the state and said that the government would adhere to its policy of balanced development of every region, village, and house. The three districts of the north Andhra region have been reorganized into six districts as part of the decentralization plans with one of them being named after Manyam warrior Alluri Seetarama Raju who terrorized the British rulers, said Jagan Mohan Reddy. “North Andhra region which became famous as Kalinga Andhra with its unique culture, tradition, and social movements will soon become the… address for development,” he said, adding that he would be shifting to Visakhapatnam in September. He observed that the Bhogapuram International Airport, which would cater to 40 lakh passengers initially and grow to a footfall of four crore passengers, would be the central point for Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts, changing the façade of north Andhra region, known for the migration of people. “It would soon witness a reverse migration, making it a job hub and attracting people from different regions,” the chief minister said. He said the Bhogapuram Airport, which is to be developed by GMR, was originally scheduled to be completed in 36 months but he asked GMR chairman G Mallikarjuna Rao to explore the options of completing it in two years. “The GMR chairman promised to make it operational in two and a half years at least,” the CM said. The airport would have two runways with the ability to handle A320 and A380 aircraft, besides having a cargo complex, aviation academy, and a 2,500-acre Aero-city nearby, he said. Jagan Mohan Reddy further said: “The new seaport in Srikakulam district, Bhogapuram International Airport, and the proposed six-lane highway between Visakhapatnam and Bhogapuram aided by the new medical colleges, medical tourism, Kidney Research Centre at Uddhanam, Tribal University at Saluru, and Tribal Engineering College in the region would totally change the landscape of north Andhra in the days to come.” The foundation stone for the six-lane highway from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram Airport would be laid in four months, he said, adding that the Rs 700 crore safe drinking water project to bring purified water to Uddanam area from Hiramandalam Reservoir and the Kidney Research Centre at Uddhanam would be dedicated to the people in June. The chief minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for “extending full cooperation in initiating the works of Bhogapuram International Airport”. He also expressed his gratitude to the farmers who gave up their lands for the construction of the airport. Taraka Rama Thirtha Sagaram Project would provide drinking water to the people in 49 villages in Pusapatirega, Bhogapuram and Denkada Mandals of Vizianagaram district and irrigation water to 24, 710 acres besides supplying water to the Bhogapuram International Airport. These works are scheduled to be completed by December 2024. The Andhra Pradesh Airport Development Corporation Limited (APADCL) has partnered with the GMR Group to build the Bhogapuram International Airport under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The total passenger capacity will be expanded in phases to accommodate up to 1.8 crore passengers per year. The airport will feature the most modern trumpet design to ensure passenger comfort. The airport terminal will be directly connected to roads from Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam to provide easy access for passengers. In the first phase, the airport will establish an international EXIM gateway, logistics ecosystem, domestic and international cargo terminal with an area of 5,000 sq m. A range of facilities including an air traffic control building, and a sewage treatment plant will be developed as part of the project. The government has rehabilitated displaced families from four villages who voluntarily vacated their houses for the airport. They have been provided with accommodation and a total of Rs 77 crore as compensation.