VIZIANAGARAM / Vijayawada
If everything goes well, and as is being planned by both the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the GMR Group that is executing the project, the international airport coming up at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district is expected to be functional from the year 2026.
The State government is said to have directed the company to complete the construction process in 36 months.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is scheduled to lay the foundation stone on May 3 (Wednesday) for the project whose estimated cost is put at ₹4,592 crore.
The State government has acquired 2,203.26 acres of land for the airport. It is expected that the facility will initially ensure air connectivity for nearly 60 lakh passengers per year. The passenger traffic is expected to cross 4 crore in the years to come.
The State government has provided an R&R package of ₹77 crore to the displaced families of four villages. The construction of houses has been completed, and they have been allotted to the displaced families.
According to a release from the State government, a dedicated international and domestic cargo terminal will be constructed in 5,000 square metres under Phase-1. Wide-bodied freighters will also be able to operate from the airport.
Meanwhile, Vizianagaram district Collector Nagalakshmi Selvarajan, Superintendent of Police M. Deepika, Joint Collector Mayur Ashok, and public representatives visited the venue were the foundation stone will be laid and the public meeting area located at Savaravilli to ensure fool-proof arrangements for the Chief Minister’s visit.
Fishing jetty
Ms. Nagalakshmi told the media later that the Chief Minister would also unveil the plaques marking the laying of stone for the fishing jetty at Chintapalli of Pusapatirega mandal in the district and the pending works of the Tarakarama Teertha Sagar project.
The construction of Tarakarama Teertha project at a cost of ₹194.40 crore is aimed at supplying water to the Bhogapuram airport. It will also provide drinking water to the people of 49 villages in Pusapatirega, Bhogapuram and Denkada mandals of Vizianagaram district. It will also provide irrigation water to 24,710 acres. The project is expected to be complete by December 2024.
She said the State government would spend ₹23.74 crore for the construction of the fishing jetty, or fish landing centre.
It will benefit thousands of fishermen directly and indirectly. It helps in providing free passage to the fishing boats throughout the year, and safe landing of boats and safe mooring during cyclones / disasters.
Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who will arrive at around 10 a.m., will leave the venue at around 1 p.m. Around 2,500 police personnel will monitor the security arrangements for Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tour in the backdrop of possible agitations by the opposition parties.
