NEW DELHI, Aug 1: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the newly developed Alluri Sitharama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, about 50 kilometres from Visakhapatnam city, marking a significant milestone in Andhra Pradesh’s aviation infrastructure and regional connectivity.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, and Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Ram Mohan Naidu. Several senior officials, dignitaries, and representatives of the GMR Group, the developer of the airport, were also present on the occasion.
During the inauguration, representatives from the GMR Group briefed the Prime Minister on the airport’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, passenger facilities, technological advancements, and sustainable design features. They also provided insights into the project’s construction, operational capabilities, and its expected role in boosting tourism, trade, investment, and economic development in the region.
The inauguration of the Alluri Sitharama Raju International Airport is expected to enhance air connectivity for North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, facilitate faster movement of passengers and cargo, and serve as the state’s long-term economic growth and infrastructure development.
Developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode at a cost of over Rs 5,640 crore, the Greenfield airport has been designed to handle 6 million passengers annually.
Later speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu highly endorsed Mr Modi’s leadership, describing him as the only leader capable of making India the world’s number one nation by 2047. Mr Naidu asked people to protect Mr Modi’s leadership, and said those criticising him should reassess what they had contributed to the nation.
Mr Naidu said India was at a crucial juncture, with the world moving from the Information Technology (IT) era to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era. While knowledge and technology were readily available, what the country needed was a strong leadership to harness them for national development, he said.
“Democratic countries across the world are searching for new leaders. India is fortunate to have a tested leader. Narendra Modi has spent nearly 25 years as Chief Minister and Prime Minister, delivering extraordinary governance. He is the only democratic leader in the world with the knowledge and ability to carry forward 144 crore Indians and the nation,” Mr Naidu said.
On the Prime Minister’s governance over the past 12 years, the Chief Minister cited Digital Public Infrastructure, the expansion of digital transactions, GST reforms, ports, metro rail projects, green energy, wealth creation, science and technology. “I have been in public life for over five decades and have seen many leaders. Narendra Modi has a clear agenda, Nation First. He has a clear vision of Viksit Bharat 2047,” Mr Naidu said.
He also praised the Prime Minister for steering the country through several challenges. Mr Naidu said India would emerge as the world’s leading nation by 2047, and that such a change was possible only under Mr Modi’s leadership. “Without Narendra Modi, it is not possible. The entire nation must understand the respect he has brought to India across the globe. Wherever you go in the world, people respect Narendra Modi. We have to protect his leadership. Those who criticised him must rethink what he has done and contributed to the nation,” he said.