CleanupBot at 08:15, 24 November 2023

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox airport
| nativename-a =
| nativename-r =
| location = [[Bhogapuram]], Andhra Pradesh, India
| elevation-m =
| coordinates = {{Coord|18.0307|83.4937|display=inline,title}}
| r1-length-f = 12,467
| r1-surface = {{mdash}}
| metric-rwy =
| name = Bhogapuram Airport
| image =
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| type = Public
| owner = [[GMR Group]]
| operator =
| city-served = [[Visakhapatnam]]
| elevation-f =
| website =
| r1-number = {{mdash}}
| r1-length-m = 3,800
| r2-number =
| r2-length-m =
| r2-length-f =
| r2-surface =
| footnotes =
| stat-year = Feb 2019
| pushpin_map =
| image-width = 300
}}

'''Bhogapuram Airport''' is a proposed [[Greenfield project|greenfield]] international airport project to be built near [[Bhogapuram]] in Vizianagaram district, about {{Convert|40|km|mi}} north-east of [[Visakhapatnam]].

== History ==

=== Planning ===
The proposal for setting up a [[greenfield airport]] was planned during the [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] government in 1997 under the erstwhile [[Andhra Pradesh (1956–2014)|Andhra Pradesh]] state at Visakhapatnam. Alternate sites like [[Sabbavaram]], [[Atchutapuram]] and Koruprolu were also considered.<ref>{{Cite document|title=Site suitability study for an International Airport in Visakhapatnam|s2cid=167193781}}</ref> The [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI) gave its technical approval of the project site in June, 2015.<ref name="TH1">{{cite news |title=NAAI nod for Bhogapuram Airport Plan, says Minister |url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/naai-nod-for-bhogapuram-airport-plan-says-minister/article7343904.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date= 23 June 2015 | access-date= 2015-06-23 }}</ref> The request for proposals (RFP) for the project was issued in July 2016, and AAI and the [[GMR Group]] submitted their technical and financial bids in August 2017.<ref name="TOI3">{{cite news |title=Airports Authority of India, GMR in race to bag Bhogapuram airport project |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/airports-authority-of-india-gmr-in-race-to-bag-bhogapuram-airport-project/articleshow/60139802.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date= 20 August 2017| access-date= 21 August 2017 }}</ref>

The current [[Visakhapatnam Airport]] is a civil enclave on a naval airfield, while the Navy proposed the flying slots for civilians in the existing airport and hence suffers from constraints.{{clarification needed|date=June 2020}}<ref name="HBL">{{cite news |title=Greenfield International Airport to come up at Bhogapuram in Vizag |url= http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/greenfield-airport-needed-in-vizag-minister/article7105541.ece |work=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |date= 15 April 2015 | access-date= 2015-06-23 }}</ref>

=== Construction ===
The airport's foundation stone was laid by Chandrababu Naidu, the then chief minister of [[Andhra Pradesh]], on 14 February 2019<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu laid Foundation stone for Bhogapuram International Airport near Vizag|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/foundation-laid-bhogapuram-international-airport-near-vizag-96736|access-date=2020-04-18|website=www.thenewsminute.com|date=15 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-15|title=Foundation stone laid for Bhogapuram Airport near Visakhapatnam|url=https://www.yovizag.com/visakhapatnam-bhogapuram-airport-foundation-stone/|access-date=2020-04-18|website=Vizag -|language=en-US}}</ref> with an initial planning of developing the mega aerotropolis with estimating land of 5,311 acres, comprising Bhogapuram Airport, cargo facilities, MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility and an aviation academy. The [[Third N. Chandrababu Naidu ministry|Chandrababu Naidu government]] has acquired 2,703 acres of land because of land agitation from locals,<ref name="TOI">{{cite news|date=1 September 2015|title=Bhogapuram: suitable package for ryots being evolved, says C.M.|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/bhogapuram-suitable-package-for-ryots-being-evolved-says-cm/article7605379.ece}}</ref> including 1,673 acres of government land allotted for the project.<ref name=":0" />

However, the successive [[Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy ministry|YSRCP government]] fixed only 2,200 acres to [[GMR Group]] and reduce the land for the purpose while keeping aside 500 acres of land under the control of state government with no official reasons mentioned.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Cabinet fixes 2,200 acres of land for Bhogapuram airport project|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2020/mar/05/cabinet-fixes-2200-acres-of-land--for-bhogapuram-airport-project-2112517.html|access-date=2020-04-16|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The airport would be constructed on a final 2,200-acre site in and around Bhogapuram that serves Visakhapatnam city. It would be built by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), a [[special purpose vehicle|Special Purpose Vehicle]] (SPV) owned by the GMR group that was set up in June 2020.<ref name="ET">{{cite news|title=Andhra Pradesh government drops aerotropolis in Vizag,airport alone to be built|work=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]]|url=https://m.economictimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/andhra-pradesh-government-drops-aerotropolis-in-vizag-airport-alone-to-be-built/articleshow/76370814.cms}}</ref> The project would be taken up in the [[public–private partnership]] (PPP) mode with the state holding a stake in the form of land holdings.<ref name="TOI2">{{cite news|date=14 March 2015|title=AP plans aerotropolis at Bhogapuram|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/AP-plans-aerotropolis-at-Bhogapuram/articleshow/46559639.cms|access-date=2015-06-23}}</ref>

An in-principle approval has been granted for the project, that would be developed by the [[government of Andhra Pradesh]] under a PPP basis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Govt-panel-clears-three-new-airports-in-Andhra-Pradesh/articleshow/54525371.cms|title = Andhra Pradesh: Govt panel clears three new airports in Andhra Pradesh | Delhi News - Times of India}}</ref> A pre-bid meeting was held in August 2018, for which 13 developers showed interest in developing this airport. The Chandrababu Naidu government finally approved GMR group,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yovizag.com/gmr-bhogapuram-airport-vizag/|title=GMR bags the bid to build Bhogapuram airport in Vizag|date=2019-02-27|website=Vizag -|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref> who also operates the international airports, Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad.

The airport's construction is expected to start by 2021-end, and is expected to be completed by December 2023. Upon completion of phase 1, the terminal handling capacity is expected to be 6.3 million passengers per year, and then rising to 18 million passengers per year on completion of phase 2.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Airports in India}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Proposed airports in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Vizianagaram district]]
[[Category:Transport in Vizianagaram district]]
[[Category:Proposed infrastructure in India]]

Bhogapuram Airport - Revision history

CleanupBot at 08:15, 24 November 2023