Shekhawat shares live: PM Modi opens Bhogapuram airport
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh on 1 August 2026, also launching development projects in the region. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the live event, spotlighting a greenfield airport named after the iconic Rampa Rebellion leader.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport at Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh on 1 August 2026 .
The airport is named after Alluri Sitarama Raju , leader of the Rampa Rebellion (1922–1924) against British rule in the Eastern Ghats.
Bhogapuram is in Vizianagaram district and the airport is designed to serve the broader Visakhapatnam region.
PM Modi also launched a package of development projects in Bhogapuram alongside the airport inauguration.
The project fits India's greenfield airport expansion drive under the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 and the UDAN scheme .
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the live event on X, amplifying the inauguration within the ruling coalition's infrastructure narrative.
A new gateway to Andhra Pradesh took shape on Saturday, 1 August 2026, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport at Bhogapuram and launched a set of development projects in the region — a moment Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared live with his followers on X.
A freedom fighter's name on a modern runway
The airport carries the name of Alluri Sitarama Raju, the revolutionary who led the Rampa Rebellion of 1922–1924 against British colonial rule in the Eastern Ghats — a deliberate act of historical reclamation embedded in a piece of modern infrastructure. Bhogapuram, located in Vizianagaram district, has been developed as a greenfield site to ease pressure on the existing airport at Visakhapatnam and serve the broader coastal corridor of the state.
Bhogapuram's place in India's airport expansion push
The inauguration fits a pattern that has defined infrastructure policy over the past decade. Since the National Civil Aviation Policy of 2016 and the launch of the UDAN regional connectivity scheme, successive central governments have pushed greenfield airport approvals — particularly in coastal and eastern states where air connectivity has historically lagged. The current administration has accelerated that pipeline, with Andhra Pradesh emerging as a key beneficiary given its long coastline and dispersed urban centres.
Bhogapuram was chosen specifically to serve the Visakhapatnam metropolitan region, one of the fastest-growing industrial and port corridors on India's eastern seaboard. A second international-grade airport in the zone is expected to unlock capacity for both passenger traffic and cargo, complementing the port and industrial clusters nearby.
Development projects alongside the inauguration
Beyond the airport ribbon-cutting, PM Modi also launched a package of development projects in Bhogapuram on the same occasion. The specifics of those projects are being watched closely — funding timelines and rollout schedules will determine how quickly the surrounding region converts the infrastructure moment into economic momentum.
Minister Shekhawat's decision to share the live broadcast underscores the event's significance within the ruling coalition's infrastructure narrative heading into the second half of 2026. A new airport named after a tribal freedom fighter, inaugurated on the Andhra coast — the symbolism and the steel are both very much by design.
Point of View
A tribal freedom fighter from the Eastern Ghats, signals a deliberate effort to weave subaltern history into the BJP's governance narrative in Andhra Pradesh. For the ruling alliance, greenfield airports in coastal states serve a dual purpose: they address real connectivity gaps while generating high-visibility moments that reinforce the 'infrastructure decade' brand. The accompanying development project announcements will be the real test — whether the momentum of inauguration day translates into ground-level delivery is what Andhra voters will ultimately judge.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport located?
Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport is located at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. It is a greenfield airport developed to serve the Visakhapatnam metropolitan region.
Who is Alluri Sitarama Raju?
Alluri Sitarama Raju was a revolutionary freedom fighter who led the Rampa Rebellion from 1922 to 1924 against British colonial rule in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. The airport is named in his honour.
Why is a new airport being built at Bhogapuram?
Bhogapuram was chosen to ease capacity pressure on the existing Visakhapatnam airport and to serve the growing industrial and port corridor on Andhra Pradesh's eastern coast.
What is the UDAN scheme and how does it relate to this airport?
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) is India's regional connectivity scheme launched under the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 to make air travel affordable and expand airport infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions like coastal Andhra Pradesh.
What did Gajendra Singh Shekhawat post about the Bhogapuram airport?
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared a live broadcast link on X on 1 August 2026, covering PM Modi's inauguration of Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport and the launch of development projects in Bhogapuram.
