Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. FILE PHOTO
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will travel to Delhi on Wednesday to formally invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration, scheduled for August 1, of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district.
During the visit, Mr. Naidu is also expected to call on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Ministers’ Piyush Goyal, Manohar Lal Khattar and C.R. Patil. He will leave Amaravati at 7.30 a.m. and reach Delhi by 10 a.m. Mr. Naidu will stay overnight and return to the State Secretariat by 10.20 a.m. on Thursday.
Reviewing arrangements with senior officials on Monday night for the inauguration, Mr. Naidu directed that the event be conducted on a grand scale, with a traditional welcome for the Prime Minister showcasing the cultural heritage of North Andhra. He said the airport would emerge as “the jewel of North Andhra” once operational.
Officials informed him that, apart from the passenger terminal building, the Prime Minister would also formally inaugurate the GMR Skill Development Centre, the Aviation Hub-University and the GMR-MANSAS Edu City.
Describing the airport as a landmark project, Mr. Naidu said it would function as a logistics hub, provide global connectivity and serve as a ‘game changer’ for the State’s economic growth.
The Chief Minister further directed officials to honour farmers and landowners who had given up land for the project by offering them a one-time complimentary air travel opportunity. He also asked about the comprehensive arrangements, including traffic diversions, dedicated parking and security, along with adequate amenities for the public.
He instructed officials to launch an extensive publicity campaign on the airport from July 22 to July 31, and plan awareness programmes across North Andhra districts for the following ten days. He suggested that the occasion be used to strengthen the branding of ‘Araku Coffee,’ promoted by Mr. Modi on international platforms. All public representatives from the region have been asked to participate in the run-up programmes.
Published – July 21, 2026 09:02 pm IST
