Rumors Dismissed as Completely Baseless
The Government of Andhra Pradesh’s Fact-Check Department has officially dismissed widespread social media rumors claiming that Vijayawada International Airport (Gannavaram Airport) is shutting down. Rumors suggested that the Chandrababu Naidu-led government planned to close the existing airport to clear the path for a new 4,618-acre greenfield airport in Amaravati. The government categorically labeled these claims as entirely false and urged the general public not to believe or circulate such misinformation.
Ongoing Expansion at Gannavaram Airport
Demonstrating its commitment to maintaining the airport, the state government highlighted that infrastructural upgrades are actively underway at Gannavaram. To handle increasing passenger traffic efficiently, a new integrated terminal building is being constructed with an estimated budget of ₹611.80 crore. The construction works have reached their final stages, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) along with the state government are expediting the remaining tasks to inaugurate the expanded facility very soon.
Coexistence of Dual Airports to Boost Economic Growth
The Fact-Check team clarified that the proposed Amaravati Greenfield International Airport near Ravela in Guntur district is a long-term strategic project aimed at transforming the capital into a global aviation and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hub. This project will run parallel to, rather than replace, Gannavaram Airport. The government noted that having multiple operational airports is a standard practice in major metropolitan zones, pointing to examples like Delhi-Noida and Mumbai-Navi Mumbai, ensuring that both regional and global aviation hubs thrive concurrently.
