Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 August inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, while launching development projects worth nearly ₹18,000 crore spanning road connectivity, energy security, and semiconductors. Addressing the gathering, Modi declared that Andhra Pradesh has the potential to become a growth engine for 'Viksit Bharat' — the government's vision of a developed India.

Key Developments at Bhogapuram

The newly inaugurated airport is named after Alluri Sitarama Raju, the legendary tribal freedom fighter from the region — part of what Modi described as a deliberate shift away from the earlier practice of naming airports after members of a single political family. Beyond the airport, the projects launched cover highway and expressway expansion, energy infrastructure, and semiconductor development, all framed under the government's broader push to build a Coastal Economic Corridor along Andhra's shoreline.

Modi highlighted that existing ports from Visakhapatnam to Krishnapatnam are being modernised, while new ports are being developed at Mulapeta and Ramayapatnam. Railway projects worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore are currently underway in the state, he noted, aimed at strengthening connectivity with major industrial hubs across India.

Aviation Growth and the UDAN Scheme

Modi used the occasion to highlight India's aviation expansion over the past 12 years. The number of operational airports has grown from 74 in 2014 to 166 today, he said. He added that the government recently launched the second phase of the UDAN scheme, under which ₹29,000 crore will be invested to further expand regional air connectivity, making air travel accessible to ordinary and lower-income families.

Modi also pointed to the hub-and-spoke airport model — first inaugurated in Kashi and now extended to Amritsar — which will connect Amritsar to more than 25 international destinations. He framed this as part of a larger democratisation of air travel under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Tech Investment and the Google Announcement

On the technology front, Modi stated that work is underway on AI infrastructure and data centres in Andhra Pradesh alongside semiconductor projects. He noted that Google has announced an AI and cloud infrastructure campus in the state with an investment of $15 billion. 'Many other global companies are seeing new opportunities here,' he said, adding that the biggest beneficiaries would be Andhra Pradesh and the country's youth.

The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, he said, is central to this push — integrating railways, ports, and airports to improve logistics, ease of doing business, and farmer access to markets.

Political and Cultural Backdrop

Modi praised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, saying the entire NDA team is working for Andhra Pradesh 'at double the speed.' He credited Naidu's personal involvement for attracting global investment to the state.

The event was also marked by a cultural display — more than 13,000 tribal women performed the traditional Dhimsa dance to welcome the Prime Minister, which he described as 'a truly remarkable sight.' Also present were Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Goa Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju, and Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu.

With the Coastal Economic Corridor, semiconductor clusters, and a major tech campus now in motion, Andhra Pradesh's development trajectory over the next few years will be a key test of whether these commitments translate into measurable economic outcomes for the state's citizens.