ASR airport earns praise from passengers

The excitement with the opening of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International airport at Bhogapuram was evident even on the second day of its commercial operations.

Normally, waiting at the airport is often considered boring for many, even so visitors appeared eager to spend time exploring the new airport. Senior orthopaedic specialist Dr. S. Rajendra Chakravarthy arrived almost an hour early with his children to receive his wife Doctor Merugu Anusha who was returning to Vizianagaram from Hyderabad after attending a cardiology conference. On her arrival, the family spent time around the airport taking photographs.

Dr. Anusha while speaking to The Hindu said: “The airport management has given priority to highlight our heritage and culture. Etikoppaka toy inspired installations at the airport, Bobbili Veena and other cultural elements made me spend extra time within the airport, even though my family was waiting outside to receive me.”

Sridhar Lokam, a US-based software business CEO, described the ASR airport as the pride of Vizianagaram and a potential growth engine for North Andhra’s quick development. “We are from Vizianagaram. We have never seen any significant progress in the region for decades. But now, the airport will change the situation, bringing quick progress within no time.” Mr. Sridhar’s father Nageswara Rao Lokam, a retired professor of Andhra University hoped that direct flights to the US would be introduced going forward.

B. Srinivasa Rao, CEO of Global Aqua Technologies of Hyderabad said that he was impressed with the sea view while landing at the airport.

“Passenger amenities here are more compared to numerous other airports. It is good to see improvement in facilities for travellers at the newly constructed airport,” he said. The baggage handling and other facilities are efficient and seamless, he added.

Retired teachers V. Sitaramamurthy and T. A. B. Joshi travelled from Visakhapatnam to see the new airport. They said they were excited to see the fish-shaped terminal building, and waterfalls at the entrance of the airport.

Visakhapatnam resident K. Ravikumar who returned from Muscat via Hyderabad after five months, said that he spent some time at the airport with his family members. As part of the inaugural celebrations.

The airport management said that they would continue the gesture for a few more days, “My family was excited about the airport, and we spent some quality time with them at departure terminal.”

The GMR group provided welcome-drink bottles to arriving passengers. Currently, the airport is handling around 30 flights daily and international flights are anticipated to be operated soon from here.