The Prime Minister reiterated his resolve to build the Visakhapatnam Economic Region into a leading industrial hub.
With the expansion of airport infrastructure and the rise of new‑age industries, India envisions Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh as a major growth engine for Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a 200,000‑strong ecstatic crowd near the port city on Saturday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the greenfield Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Modi said, “We are developing the Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER) as a major industrial centre of the country. Our goal is for VER to become a major economic hub of Asia.”
He noted that the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is driving the region’s development through enhanced rail, port, and airport connectivity. “When this modern logistics network is prepared here, industries will get better connectivity, farmers will benefit, and ease of doing business will also increase.”
Simultaneously laying the foundation stone for South India’s first semiconductor plant, Modi highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s role in India’s software and technology sectors. He said that under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, the state would evolve into a manufacturing hub alongside its software strength. “Andhra Pradesh and the country must benefit as much as possible from the talent of our youth. For this, our focus is now on futuristic tech industries like semiconductors.”
He added that this focus would create next‑generation jobs and a new environment for the tech industry. “In the world economy, anywhere, the creation of any growth centre cannot happen with just one factory; an entire ecosystem is needed for that. Today in Andhra Pradesh, we are creating that same ecosystem of growth.”
Modi said the state’s industrial story extends beyond digital technology. In Nakkapalli, the Centre is supporting the development of a large pharmaceutical park to establish Andhra Pradesh as a major pharma hub. Similarly, over ₹5 trillion has been invested in the green‑energy sector in the Rayalaseema region. He assured that the “double‑engine” Central and State governments were committed to leveraging all growth possibilities.
New Greenfield Hub
Completed several months ahead of schedule, the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, named after the legendary freedom fighter from the region, will commence operations on August 17, 2026. The project has been developed on 2,200 acres by MR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd (GVIAL)—a subsidiary of GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd, the airport development arm of GMR Group—under the public‑private partnership (PPP) model on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis.
Speaking after the launch, SGK Kishore, Executive Director South & Chief Innovation Officer (Airports), said, “While integrating the local art, culture, and history of this region into the terminal building, we have also designed it for the new generation. The entire passenger processing and operations are based on an AI‑driven platform called APOC (Airport Operations Control Centre), where all data generated will be integrated.”
The airport has received LEED Platinum Certification for meeting benchmarks in energy, water, and waste reduction. “With the vision that the entire airport should run on renewable energy, we are already setting up a 5 MW solar plant in the first phase,” Kishore said.
Rainwater retention ponds have been built to prevent runoff and soil erosion. The modular design allows expansion from the current 6 million‑passenger capacity to nearly 50 million in future phases. The airside has been designed to accommodate the world’s largest passenger and freighter aircraft.
In a region prone to typhoons, the airport is engineered to withstand winds up to 275 kmph, ensuring safety and resilience.
The long‑term vision is to position Bhogapuram as a global aviation hub in the East. “Rather than passengers transiting through other hubs, we aim to offer direct connectivity. We want to make this a hub between Southeast Asia and the Middle East; it lies on the same navigation route, right at the centre,” Kishore added.
– Manish Pant