Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh, on July 20, 2024 [3].
The move signals a shift in how the Indian government recognizes national figures, moving away from naming major infrastructure after political dynasties to honor diverse freedom fighters.
The project carried a total cost of ₹5,640 crore [1]. Located in Bhogapuram, the facility serves as the third international airport for Andhra Pradesh [2]. During its first phase, the airport is designed to handle six million passengers annually [2].
Modi used the ceremony to criticize previous administrative practices regarding the naming of national assets. He said that airports were named after only one family and that the NDA government has changed this tradition [3].
By naming the site after Alluri Sitarama Raju, a noted freedom fighter, the Prime Minister said the government intends to inspire citizens toward public service. "Every citizen travelling through this airport will draw inspiration for public service," Modi said [3].
The Prime Minister said that the naming of the airport is part of a broader effort to honor national icons who contributed to the country's independence. He said, "We have named this airport after freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju" [1].
“Airports were named after only one family. The NDA government has changed this tradition.”
The inauguration of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is as much a political statement as an infrastructure milestone. By explicitly contrasting the NDA's naming conventions with those of the previous administration, Modi is leveraging public infrastructure to reshape the national narrative around heroism and service, shifting the focus from dynastic legacy to regional and revolutionary figures.
