Bhogapuram International Airport to Replace Visakhapatnam Civil Enclave from August 17

Visakhapatnam, July 2026 : Commercial flight operations at Visakhapatnam Airport’s Civil Enclave (INS Dega) will officially come to an end from August 17, with all domestic and international passenger services shifting to the newly built Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a formal notification announcing that commercial operations at the existing Civil Enclave will cease from 12.01 a.m. on August 17, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the region’s aviation infrastructure.

While scheduled commercial flights will move to the new airport, INS Dega will continue to function as a military airbase under the Indian Navy. The notification also permits its use during national emergencies, as well as by aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force, other armed forces, police agencies and special government-owned or chartered VIP aircraft.

With the transition, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) airport code “VTZ”, currently assigned to Visakhapatnam Airport, will be transferred to the Bhogapuram facility from the same date. The Civil Aviation Ministry has also officially renamed the Greenfield airport as Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, honouring the legendary freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the airport on August 1, ahead of the commencement of commercial operations. Developed at an estimated cost of ₹4,727 crore, the airport has emerged as one of India’s fastest-completed Greenfield international airport projects, with construction completed in just 31 months, nearly five months ahead of schedule.

Officials said the airport has already received the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) aerodrome licence along with all mandatory environmental, fire safety and operational clearances, making it fully ready for passenger services.

The first phase of the airport has been designed to handle six million passengers annually, while the long-term master plan envisions expanding capacity to 40 million passengers per year, making it one of the country’s major aviation hubs.

Spread over 2,703.26 acres, the integrated project includes 2,203.32 acres dedicated to airport infrastructure, 500 acres for an aviation hub and 136.63 acres earmarked for an Aviation University and EduCity. Besides aviation facilities, the development also includes commercial zones, residential areas and extensive road connectivity.

A key highlight of the airport is its 3,800-metre-long Code-E runway, capable of accommodating large wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330 and Airbus A340. The airport has also been equipped with state-of-the-art airfield lighting, advanced navigation systems and Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure to facilitate seamless domestic and international flight operations.

The passenger terminal features several modern technologies aimed at improving travel convenience. These include contact boarding bridges, the Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS), self-service check-in and baggage drop facilities, integrated security management systems, smart surveillance, access control systems and an Integrated Operational Control and Monitoring Centre.

The Andhra Pradesh government expects the airport to become a major catalyst for economic growth across north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Besides improving connectivity, the project is expected to boost tourism, industrial investment, exports, logistics, aerospace and defence-related industries in the Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam regions, transforming Bhogapuram into a significant aviation and economic gateway on India’s eastern coast.