VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday to extend an official invitation for the grand inauguration of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, scheduled for August 1, 2026.
Sharing details of the meeting on X, Naidu stated that the new airport, named after revolutionary freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, stands as a tribute to his legacy while serving as a strategic growth engine for North Coastal Andhra.
During the interaction, Naidu introduced Vizianagaram MP Kalisetti Appalanaidu to the Prime Minister, who warmly acknowledged the MP’s practice of commuting to Parliament on a bicycle.
Naidu and Modi also held discussions on major political and development issues concerning both the State and the nation.
Continuing his national capital visit, Naidu held separate meetings with Union Ministers CR Patil, Piyush Goyal, and Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss progress of the Polavaram project, Jal Jeevan Mission, and urban infrastructure initiatives.
Meanwhile at the Secretariat in Velagapudi, a high-level review meeting was held by State ministers, senior officials, and district administrations from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Parvathipuram Manyam to coordinate arrangements for the August 1 event.
Ministers K Atchannaidu, P Narayana, Payyavula Keshav, Vangalapudi Anitha, Y Satya Kumar Yadav, BC Janardhan Reddy and Gottipati Ravi Kumar, alongside TDP State president Palla Srinivasa Rao and BJP State president PVN Madhav, discussed logistics, crowd management, transport, parking, and catering.
ASR Airport will transform face of North Andhra: CM
The meeting also planned cultural shows, including Araku tribal Dhimsa dance. Given that the inauguration falls on August 1, the Ministers directed authorities to advance monthly pension disbursement and streamline security arrangements, keeping in mind the upcoming Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina on July 28.
In a late-night teleconference on Tuesday with officials and elected representatives, the Chief Minister emphasised that the Bhogapuram International Airport will serve as a global logistics hub and a game-changer for the State’s economy.
Beyond the main passenger terminal, the event will mark the launch of an Aviation University, a Skill Development Centre, an Aviation Hub, and an Edu-City.
Underlining the broader vision, Naidu stated that the airport, alongside upcoming AI Data Centres and rare earth mineral developments, will transform the face of North Coastal Andhra by boosting tourism, trade, and employment within Visakhapatnam Economic Region.
As a gesture of gratitude, Naidu announced that land donor farmers and landowners who contributed property for the airport will be provided a one-time free air travel experience.
District Collectors across six North Coastal Andhra districts have been tasked with involving local communities for success of the event.