Visakhapatnam, Dec 16 (NationPress) The Union Minister for Civil Aviation, K. Ram Mohan Naidu, announced on Tuesday that the Bhogapuram International Airport is set to be dedicated to the nation in May 2026.

He also revealed that trial operations at the new airport near Vizianagaram will commence next month.

This announcement was made during the unveiling of the Aviation, Aerospace and Defence (AAD) EduCity located near Bhogapuram Airport.

Minister Naidu indicated that while the airport's completion was originally slated for June 2026, the inauguration will now take place a month earlier.

According to a review conducted last month, 91.7 percent of the construction work has been accomplished.

The AAD EduCity, spread over 136 acres, is touted to be India's first integrated facility focused on Aviation, Aerospace, and Defence education.

This EduCity aims to serve as a national platform to tackle the significant global and domestic shortage of aviation professionals, positioning India as a key provider of aviation talent.

Andhra Pradesh's Education and IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, who oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between two private entities, emphasized that the initiative will address the urgent human capital needs of the aviation sector.

The launch was attended by notable figures including Goa Governor P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu, and G.B.S. Raju.

The Aviation EduCity is envisioned as a fully integrated education-innovation-industry cluster, comprising international branch campuses (IBCs) and esteemed global universities. It will feature licensing and certification programs aligned with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and international standards, alongside advanced research centers focusing on aerospace design, AI-driven aviation systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, sustainable aviation, and safety.

The facility will also incorporate incubation, prototyping, and startup support for aviation and aerospace technologies, as well as residential and social infrastructure, thereby creating a self-sufficient campus ecosystem.

As stated by the Andhra Pradesh government, this model is in accordance with the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), National Education Policy 2020, Make in India, and India's broader aerospace and defense goals.