The Union government has notified the Bhogapuram International Airport near here as an authorised immigration checkpost, marking a significant regulatory milestone for the upcoming facility’s operational readiness.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the notification under the powers conferred by Section 4(1) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, amending a previous list of authorised checkposts dated September 1, 2025. Bhogapuram airport has been inserted as serial number 39 under Category I (Airports) in the national registry.

This designation is a key statutory requirement that enables immigration authorities to process passengers for international arrivals and departures. Once commercial operations commence, the checkpoint will allow officers to conduct mandatory passport verification, visa checks, and other security procedures prescribed under Indian immigration law.

This development follows the recent issuance of an aerodrome licence to the Alluri Sitharama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu presented the licence to GMR Airports representatives in New Delhi on July 10, signaling that the facility is prepared for commercial flight operations.

Positioned as the aviation hub for north coastal Andhra Pradesh, the airport is designed to handle nearly 40 million passengers annually. The terminal architecture, which spans 78,000 square metres, is modelled on the shape of a flying fish, with interiors intended to reflect the cultural heritage of North Andhra.

The new airport is expected to complement the existing facility in Visakhapatnam, significantly enhancing air connectivity for the region and catering to growing domestic and international passenger traffic.

Published - July 13, 2026 09:06 pm IST