A new airport every 50 days in India: Union Minister Rammohan

India’s aviation sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, with a new airport being inaugurated every 50 days, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said on Friday. Speaking at the inaugural session of the 30th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, he noted that such rapid expansion is unmatched anywhere in the world.

The minister highlighted major achievements in airport development, passenger capacity expansion, and various other aviation-related sectors, calling the progress “transformational”.

Andhra Pradesh emerging as an aviation hub

Rammohan Naidu said Andhra Pradesh has become one of the key beneficiaries of India’s aviation boom. The state government is actively working to develop AP into a logistics and aviation hub.

Currently, Andhra Pradesh has seven operational airports, and another seven aerodromes have been proposed. Alongside new airports, the state is also strengthening aviation-related infrastructure. Four Flight Training Organisations are being set up, and Visakhapatnam will soon host an aviation ecosystem including aircraft maintenance facilities and an aviation skilling university.

Focus on drones and aerospace manufacturing

The minister added that the state is planning to establish a dedicated “Drone City”, aiming to tap into the rapidly growing drone industry. The government is also pushing large-scale development in aerospace and aircraft manufacturing sectors to position Andhra Pradesh as a leading destination for these industries.

Speaking about India’s long-term vision for 2047, he said the coming decades should be viewed not as a time of challenges, but as a period of limitless opportunities. He credited the progress to the strong coordination and trust between the state and central governments.

Bhogapuram international airport to open ahead of schedule

Meanwhile, work on the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport near Visakhapatnam has picked up pace. GMR Group founder-chairman G.M. Rao announced that the airport will be completed six months ahead of schedule - by June 2026.

Speaking at the same CII summit, G.M. Rao said Bhogapuram Airport will not just serve passengers but will also become home to one of the world’s largest aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hubs.

500-acre aerospace park

G.M. Rao also revealed that, in line with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s vision, GMR Group is developing a 500-acre integrated aerospace park. The park aims to attract aircraft manufacturers, research institutions, training centres, and defence-related companies. This initiative is expected to generate significant employment opportunities for local youth.

Once completed, the Bhogapuram airport - being built under a public-private partnership model - will have the capacity to handle six million passengers annually.