Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on Saturday, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for projects worth around ₹18,000 crore across infrastructure, semiconductors, renewable energy, and road connectivity.
The Prime Minister will leave Delhi at 10:45 am and arrive in Amaravati, where at 10:58 am he will inaugurate the terminal building of Bhogapuram Airport, whose design is inspired by the traditional Chuttillu cottage.
Located in Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, the Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport has been built at a cost of around ₹5,000 crore. PM Modi will also address a public meeting after the inauguration.
Later, at 3:30 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre–Vivek Smarak at the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama in Mysuru, Karnataka.
4 photos of Bhogapuram Airport…
Tribal Dhimsa dance to welcome PM
After inspecting the airport facilities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel in an open vehicle to the public meeting venue at 11:30 am. More than 13,500 tribal women and students will welcome him with the traditional Dhimsa dance.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for projects worth ₹18,000 crore, including initiatives of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Bhaskar Knowledge: What are Chuttillu cottages and Dhimsa?
Chuttillu cottages: Traditional circular homes
Chuttillu is a traditional circular hut or house found in the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh. In Telugu, Chuttillu literally means “round house.” These are not modern cottages but examples of centuries-old local vernacular architecture.
Their circular shape helps them withstand strong cyclones by deflecting high-speed winds, reducing structural damage.
Dhimsa: A tribal folk dance from Araku Valley
Dhimsa is a traditional tribal folk dance of Andhra Pradesh, performed mainly by tribal communities in Araku Valley and Alluri Sitarama Raju district. It is primarily performed by women from communities such as Bagata, Valmiki, Konda Dora, Gadaba, Jatapu, Porja, and Mukka Dora.
The dance is performed after harvests, at weddings, village festivals, and religious celebrations. It is also featured at government tourism and cultural events.
Key features of Bhogapuram Airport
- Built by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd under the PPP model across 2,703.26 acres.
- Designed to handle 6 million passengers annually in the first phase, with plans to expand capacity to 40 million passengers.
- Equipped with a 3,800-metre Code E runway, capable of handling large aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330, and Airbus A340.
- Expected to boost development, tourism, investment, and defence infrastructure in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam.
- Includes a 25,000-metric-tonne cargo terminal with cold-chain facilities for pharmaceuticals and marine products.
- One of India’s fastest-completed greenfield airports, completed around five months ahead of schedule, and has received DGCA operational clearance.
Vivekananda Memorial in Karnataka
PM Modi will inaugurate the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre – Vivek Smarak at the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama in Mysuru.
The memorial commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s historic visit to Mysuru in November 1892 during his journey across India. During his stay, he interacted with scholars and devotees and received the patronage of Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar, whose support helped him travel to the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago.
Built at the Niranjana Math, the Vivek Smarak spans over 81,000 square feet and includes a 4D Experience Centre, exhibition hall, amphitheatre with seating for about 700 people, classrooms, conference rooms, library, reading room, meditation and yoga hall, and a book stall. The centre also provides dedicated facilities for students preparing for competitive examinations.
