Laqshya Media Group has secured exclusive advertising rights at Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport (Vizag), the new greenfield airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. The airport operates under IATA code VTZ and handles all scheduled commercial traffic for Visakhapatnam. Current operations: 52 to 54 air traffic movements and approximately 7,000 passengers daily, with initial design capacity of six million passengers annually.

Laqshya will develop the airport media environment using digital, static, branded and experiential advertising formats around passenger movement and terminal architecture. Bhogapuram becomes the fourth airport in Laqshya's portfolio, alongside Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Hyderabad, Cochin International Airport, and Noida International Airport. The deal deepens Laqshya's long-standing partnership with GMR Group and provides the portfolio an eastern anchor.

The Andhra Pradesh government has not prioritized dedicated road connectivity from Vizianagaram to Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram on National Highway 16. The government has developed seven roads from Visakhapatnam to the airport but deferred Vizianagaram roads to the next phase.

The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) identified the Ice Factory Junction-Dharmapuri-Chintalavalasa-Bhogapuram stretch as important and included it in the master plan, but has not taken it up due to lack of funds.

The existing Vizianagaram-Denkada-Natavalasa-Bhogapuram route experiences heavy congestion from pharmaceutical company buses and is the only route from Vizianagaram to Srikakulam. Travel from Vizianagaram to Denkada (12 km) takes at least 30 minutes.

Air travellers from Odisha, Parvatipuram, Bobbili, and Salur would use this congested route, or travel via Raipur-Visakhapatnam highway, though most would avoid the longer distance.

Minister for MSME Kondapalli Srinivas and Information Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said dedicated roads would be developed soon, noting the government prioritized Visakhapatnam roads since all air passengers would travel to Bhogapuram once the existing Visakhapatnam airport closes.

Bhogapuram International Airport in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, is set to be inaugurated on August 1.

Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsunndar Reddy and Joint Collector S. Sedhu Madhavan announced focus on land acquisition for development around Bhogapuram international airport. Government completed acquisition of 2712.51 acres for airport construction and approach roads after facing difficulties. Officials now acquiring 204.53 acres for Tarakarama Teertha sagar project to supply water to airport. Gazette notifications expected for road development works on routes: Vizianagaram-Kothavalasa, Pendurthi-Bobbili, Raipur-Visakhapatnam and others. Government keen to acquire private lands for IT cluster development in Bhogapuram and surrounding areas. Officials hopeful that road development between Vizianagaram-Visakhapatnam will attract software industries to the district.

Air India Airbus 320 from New Delhi landed at Bhogapuram International Airport on Sunday morning as part of trial operations, completing first validation of the 3.8-km runway. Test validated airside infrastructure, navigational aids, runway systems, and operational readiness per DGCA guidelines. Airport formally named Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport (ASRIA). Civil and interior work remaining. Flight carried Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, Vizianagaram MP Kalisetti Appala Naidu, and officials.

Airport details:

• Location: Vizianagaram district, 50 km from Visakhapatnam
• Land area: 2,200 acres
• Cost: ₹4,725 crore
• Runway: 3.8 km, designed for wide-body aircraft including Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8
• Capacity: 200 planes daily, 18 planes overnight parking
• Passenger handling: 18 million annually at full capacity; 6 million in initial phase
• Facilities: Aerotropolis, aviation hub, state-of-the-art cargo terminal
• Expected operational: June 2026

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called it new milestone for aviation strengthening regional connectivity for Uttarandhra.