PM Modi launches ₹18,000 crore projects, names Bhogapuram airport after Alluri Sitarama Raju
Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched, dedicated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth around ₹18,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh. He also announced that the new airport at Bhogapuram will be named after freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju.
Modi said the projects would improve airport, road and energy infrastructure across the state. According to him, these investments would accelerate Andhra Pradesh’s journey towards the goal of Swarna Andhra. He congratulated the people of the state after inaugurating the projects.
The Prime Minister praised the participation of more than 13,000 tribal women in the Dhimsa dance performance. He said the event celebrated India’s cultural diversity and honoured the state’s tribal heritage. Therefore, he congratulated the participants for creating a new cultural record.
Modi said the Centre had ended the practice of naming airports after members of a single political family. Instead, he said, the government now honours national icons. Consequently, the new airport will carry the name of Alluri Sitarama Raju.
Alluri airport to support Andhra’s growth
The Prime Minister said the new airport would strengthen connectivity and create opportunities for the youth of North Andhra. Moreover, he highlighted the rapid expansion of India’s aviation sector. He said the number of operational airports had increased from 74 in 2014 to 166 today.
Modi also said the second phase of the UDAN scheme would receive an investment of ₹29,000 crore. In addition, he said the recently introduced Spoke Airport Model had expanded to Amritsar, connecting the city with more than 25 international destinations.
Highlighting infrastructure development, Modi said the Centre was modernising ports from Visakhapatnam to Krishnapatnam. It is also developing new ports at Mulapeta and Ramayapatnam. Furthermore, highway projects, including the Visakhapatnam-Raipur Expressway, would improve regional connectivity.
The Prime Minister said railway projects worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore are under execution in Andhra Pradesh. He added that the state has completed rail electrification and is modernising more than 70 railway stations. Meanwhile, the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is integrating ports, airports and railways to improve logistics.
Modi also highlighted the foundation stone for a semiconductor plant in Visakhapatnam. He said Andhra Pradesh would emerge as a manufacturing hub alongside its strong software sector. Besides this, he noted that Google had announced a $15 billion AI and cloud infrastructure campus in the state. He added that investments in pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence and green energy would create jobs and attract more industries.
The Prime Minister said projects worth nearly ₹2 lakh crore had been launched during his last three visits to Andhra Pradesh. Finally, he expressed confidence that the new investments would help realise the vision of Swarna Andhra and contribute to the goal of Viksit Bharat.
