Minister for MSME and NRI Affairs Kondapalli Srinivas on Saturday said that the Bhogapuram International Airport, the proposed Reliance Data Centre and other development projects in north Andhra would generate around five lakh jobs in the near future.

Along with District Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy and other officials, Mr. Srinivas took out a rally from Vizianagaram to Bhogapuram to highlight the construction of the international airport, which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1. He also released the ‘Our Airport, Our Future’ poster in Vizianagaram and urged people to participate in the 20-km rally, which concluded at the airport site.

Addressing the media, Mr. Srinivas said the N. Chandrababu Naidu-led government had completed the airport project within two years, fulfilling a promise made ahead of the 2024 general elections. He said elaborate arrangements had been made for the Prime Minister’s visit.

According to the Minister, Mr. Modi is expected to arrive at the airport at around 10.15 a.m. on August 1 and will be accorded a traditional welcome featuring a Dhimsa dance performance by about 13,000 youngsters. He added that the Prime Minister had expressed satisfaction over the completion of the airport in what he described as one of the country’s long-neglected regions.

Vizianagaram MP Kalisetti Appala Naidu alleged that the previous YSR Congress Party government had failed to ensure the development of north Andhra during its tenure.

Cheepurupalli MLA Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had consistently discussed development plans for Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts and had fulfilled a majority of the promises made before the 2024 Assembly elections.

Nellimarla MLA Lokam Naga Madhavi said several new roads had been planned from Vizianagaram to provide seamless connectivity to the airport.

Published - July 25, 2026 06:05 pm IST