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Inauguration of the New Airport

Visakhapatnam, August 1 – On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram, Vizianagaram district, which has been developed at a cost of ₹5,000 crores. The Prime Minister is scheduled to unveil the airport's passenger terminal building around 11 AM, followed by an inspection of the facility alongside Governor S. Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Afterward, he will travel in an open vehicle to a public gathering where over 13,500 tribal women and students will perform a grand Dhimsa dance to welcome him.

Airport's Vision and Capacity

According to an official press release, the airport is envisioned as a key hub to promote industrial growth, job creation, exports, and skill development. The initial phase is designed to accommodate 6 million passengers annually, with plans to expand this capacity to 40 million in the future as per the master plan. The airport is equipped with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Airside 4.0 technology, Airport Predictive Operations Center (APOC), and biometric passenger processing.

Architectural Inspiration

The architectural design of the airport draws inspiration from Andhra Pradesh's cultural heritage. The terminal's roof shape reflects traditional Chuttulu huts and the scenic beauty of the Araku Valley, while its fluid form symbolizes the graceful movement of flying fish. On this occasion, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various projects worth approximately ₹18,000 crores.

Semiconductor Project Launch

He will initiate the ₹460 crore ASIP semiconductor project in Visakhapatnam, developed in collaboration with ASIP Technologies Private Limited and South Korea's APACITY. This will be Andhra Pradesh's first semiconductor manufacturing unit approved under the 'India Semiconductor Mission,' expected to produce around 9.6 crore semiconductor chips annually and establish a robust support industrial ecosystem for the semiconductor sector.

Renewable Energy Initiatives

Additionally, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation for the transmission system connecting the Kurnool-4 Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Phase-1 (4.5 gigawatts) to the national grid. This project is being implemented by Powergrid with an investment of approximately ₹5,550 crores. He will also inaugurate the transmission system for parts A and B of the Kurnool wind and solar energy sectors in Andhra Pradesh, developed at a cost of around ₹3,550 crores.

Highway Projects and Infrastructure Development

Furthermore, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the transmission plans for solar energy sectors in Anantapur (2,500 megawatts) and Kurnool (1,000 megawatts), a project executed by Powergrid at a cost exceeding ₹820 crores. According to the release, Modi will also inaugurate and lay the foundation for national highway projects worth over ₹1,880 crores. These include a controlled-access greenfield highway from Recherla to Guruvayagudem on National Highway-365 BG. He will also lay the foundation stone for a high-level bridge at Lingasamudram on the Panchalakona-Yerpedu stretch of National Highway-565. These projects are expected to reduce traffic congestion in Vijayawada and other cities, enhance road safety, shorten travel distance and time between Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad, and improve regional connectivity.