CM lays foundation stone for Bhogapuram Airport
Bhogapuram (Vizianagaram dist.), May 3: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy laid foundation stone for the Rs. 4592 crore Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport creating a runway for all round development of the North Andhra region.
The Chief Minister also virtually laid foundation stones for Rs.194.40 crore Taraka Rama Thirtha Sagaram Project and Rs. 23.73 crore Chintapalli Fish Landing Centre in the district.
Addressing a public meeting here on Wednesday after laying the foundation stones, the Chief Minister reiterated his commitment for the decentralized development of the State and said that the Government would adhere to its policy of balanced development of every region, village and every house.
The three districts of the North Andhra region have been reorganized into six districts as part of the decentralization plans with one of them being named after Manyam warrior Alluri Seetarama Raju who terrorized the British rulers, said the Chief Minister.
North Andhra region which became famous as Kalinga Andhra with its unique culture, tradition and social movements will soon become the care of address for development, he said, adding that he would be shifting to Visakhapatnam in September.
Observing that the Bhogapuram International Airport, which wouldcater to 40 lakh passengers initially and grow to to footfall of four crore passengers, would be the central point for Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts charging the façade of North Andhra region, known for migration of people. It would soon witness a reverse migration making it a job hub and attracting people from different regions.
He said the Bhogapuram Airport, spanning over an area of 2203 acres, is originally scheduled to be completed in 36 months but he asked the GMR Chairman G. Mallikarjuna Rao to explore the options of completing it 2 years. The GMR Chairman promised to make it operational in two and a half years at least, he disclosed.
The new sea port in Srikakulam district, Bhogapuram International Airport and the proposed 6-lane highway between Visakhapatnam and Bhogapuram aided by the new Medical Colleges, Medical tourism, Kidney Research Centre at Uddhanam, Tribal University at Saluru, Tribal Engineering College in the region would totally change the landscape of North Andhra in the days to come, he said.
The Bhogapuram airport which could not move an inch in TDP rule would now become a reality as the Government has overcome all legal hurdles and completed land acquisition besides getting all clearances from the Centre and finishing the process of calling tenders, he said.
The airport would have two runways with the ability to handle the biggest A320 and A 380 flights, besides having a cargo complex, aviation academy and a 2500 Aero-city nearby, he said.
Foundation stone for the six- lane highway from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram Airport would be laid in four months, he said, adding that the Rs.700 crore safe drinking water project to bring purified water to Uddanam area from Hiramandalam Reservoir and the Kidney Research Centre at Uddhanam would be dedicated to the people in June.
The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for extending full cooperation for initiating the works of Bhogapuram International Airport. He also expressed his gratitude for the farmers who have sacrificed their lands for the construction of the airport.
Taraka Rama Thirtha Sagaram Project would provide drinking water to the people in 49 villages in Pusapatirega, Bhogarpuram and Denkada Mandals of Vizianagaram district and irrigation water to 24, 710 acres besides supplying water to the Bhogapuram International Airport. These works are scheduled to be completed by December 2024.
District Collector Nagalakshmi, Nellimarla MLA M. Appalanaidu, GMR Group Chairman G. Mallikarjuna Rao also addressed the public meeting.
The Chief Minister also sanctioned Rs. 10 crore for construction of a bridge at Kandivalasa Gadda, Rs. 10crore for laying road between Chintavalasapalli and Mentada, Rs. 2crore for a cause way on Champavati River, Rs. 1.5crore for repairing the Battivalasa canal, Rs. 2.5crore for Tummalapeta-Garikapeta BT road, Rs. 2.5crore for Kondavelagada-Rallavaka bridge and Rs. 35crore for providing drinking water to 46 coastal villages in Bhogapuram and Pusapatirega Mandals.
