The Andhra Pradesh government is speeding up ongoing airport and seaport projects, and finalising a slew of new proposals. For the upcoming greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has pledged all support to ensure the first phase is ready by January-June 2026.
An economic hub on 500-acres land has been proposed near the airport for the development of aviation and other industries. The state government is considering the stretch from Bhogapuram airport towards Visakhapatnam for development of an industrial hub and attracting investors. Further, the Central government too, is examining the feasibility of opening an airport in Anantapur, which is close to Bengaluru.
For the development of Bhavanapadu Port, Ramayapatnam Port and Machilipatnam Port, the state government has been asked to restructure the projects and explore funding through special assistance under the PM GatiShakti scheme for infrastructure development. The projects related to coastal berths and fish landing centres have been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for approval.
The new ports are expected to increase the state’s cargo handling capacity by 110 million tonnes and create 75,000 jobs.
The state government has submitted 29 new proposals to the Ministry of Ports, valued at about ₹3,300 crore and covering projects ranging from port development to construction of coastal berths and fish landing centres.
The Centre’s Sagarmala marine logistics development scheme is currently providing financial assistance to 13 projects in Andhra Pradesh, valued at around ₹2,500 crore, including Ro-Pax and passenger jetties, fishing harbours, port modernisation, and skill development.
The Visakhapatnam Port Authority and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) have undertaken 36 projects in the state at an investment of ₹4,600 crore, of which 22 projects (worth ₹2,530 crore) have been completed.
