Bhogapuram airport will be ready by June 2026, says GMRVIAL CEO Manomay Rai

GMRVIAL CEO discusses completion of Bhogapuram airport by 2026, emphasizing sustainability, digitalization, and future trends in aviation.

GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GMRVIAL) chief executive officer Manomay Rai has said that the Bhogapuram international airport would be completed by June 2026 and will be capable of handling large wide-bodied aircraft.

Mr. Rai was in Visakhapatnam recently to participate in the ‘Speaker Session on Emerging Trends & Opportunities’ organised by Vizagapatam Chamber of Commerce & Industry (VCCI), said a release on Wednesday (November 20, 2024).

“The aviation industry, particularly airports, benefits the economy by impacting multiple sectors such as fuel suppliers, logistics, travel, warehousing, hospitality, retail, and trade. The industry creates jobs and stimulates tourism and real estate,” Mr. Rai observed.

“Sustainability in airport operations and digitalisation are the future of the aviation industry. Airport operations face challenges of emission not only from its own assets but also from aircraft, ground support vehicles, and other activities carried out by various concessionaires,” he said.

“Airport operators are reducing carbon footprints by incorporating measures such as rainwater harvesting, solar plants, waste management facilities, and EV charging stations. On the digitalisation front, Digiyatra, self-bag drop, and AI-based chatbots for resolving passenger queries are some of the measures taken by airports,” he said.

“The future of air travel envisages the use of drones and Urban Air Mobility, electrical aircraft and hydrogen-powered aircraft, and extensive use of AI, machine learning, and the Internet of Things for various aspects. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is one of the most promising and evolving trends in the aviation industry,” he said.

Participating in the programme, Hindustan Shipyard Limited CMD Commodore Hemant Khatri said Visakhapatnam would become a hub of shipbuilding by 2047. The company’s future plans include resumption of commercial shipbuilding and the construction of green vessels. “As the order book is over ₹20,000 crore, there is immense scope for MSMEs to be associated with HSL,” he said.