Daijiworld Media Network - Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam, Aug 16: Commercial flight operations are set to commence from the newly developed Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district from Sunday midnight.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced that all commercial operations at the Civil Enclave at Visakhapatnam Airport (INS Dega) will cease with the commissioning of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram, with effect from 12.01 am on August 17.
All airlines are shifting their services from Visakhapatnam Airport to Bhogapuram Airport from midnight.
On the first day, 31 services are scheduled to operate to destinations including Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Tirupati.
According to the notification issued by the ministry, commercial operations at the Civil Enclave at Visakhapatnam Airport (INS Dega) will cease, except during a national emergency or for aircraft owned or operated by, or for, the Indian Air Force, other Armed Forces of India, police or other authorised authorities. Special government-owned, leased or hired VIP aircraft carrying dignitaries will also be permitted.
The International Air Transport Association airport code 'VTZ', currently assigned to Visakhapatnam Airport, will be transferred to Bhogapuram International Greenfield Airport from 12.01 am on August 17.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new airport on August 1.
Built at a cost of nearly Rs 4,727 crore, Bhogapuram airport is among the fastest-completed greenfield international airports in India. The project was completed within 31 months, nearly five months ahead of schedule.
The airport has secured its Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) aerodrome licence, along with the required safety, fire and environmental clearances.
It has been designed to handle six million passengers annually in its first phase, with a master plan to eventually expand capacity to 40 million passengers a year.
The airport is expected to play a key role in boosting economic growth, tourism, industrial investment, exports, logistics, and the aerospace and defence sectors across the erstwhile Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.
The integrated project spans 2,703.26 acres, including 2,203.32 acres for the airport, 500 acres for the aviation hub and 136.63 acres for the Aviation University/EduCity.
The project includes airside infrastructure, commercial development, residential zones and approach roads.
The airport's 3,800-metre Code-E runway is capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330 and Airbus A340.
It is also equipped with advanced airfield lighting, navigation aids and CNS/ATM infrastructure to support domestic and international operations.