New Delhi, 31 July (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a one-day visit to Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on August 1, during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for a series of infrastructure, technology and cultural development projects. He will also dedicate several key initiatives to the nation.

According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Prime Minister will begin his visit at around 11:00 a.m. by inspecting the passenger terminal building of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district. At approximately 11:30 a.m., he will inaugurate the airport and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth more than Rs 17,900 crore at Bhogapuram. He will also address a public gathering on the occasion.

Later in the day, at around 3:30 p.m., Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre (Vivek Memorial) at the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama in Mysuru, Karnataka. He will also address a gathering there.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the ASIP semiconductor project being developed in Visakhapatnam with an investment of more than Rs 460 crore. The facility is being established by ASIP Technologies Private Limited in partnership with South Korea's APACT. It will be Andhra Pradesh's first semiconductor manufacturing plant approved under the India Semiconductor Mission.

In addition, the Prime Minister will dedicate National Highway and other infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 1,880 crore to the nation. The greenfield airport, being developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at a cost exceeding Rs 5,640 crore, has been designed to handle six million passengers annually.

The airport has been equipped with advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), Airside 4.0 technology, an Airport Predictive Operations Centre (APOC), biometric passenger processing, an automated baggage handling system and intelligent operational monitoring solutions. These systems are expected to enhance operational efficiency, improve passenger convenience and safety, and optimise resource utilisation.

The passenger terminal has been designed in accordance with green building standards and is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council. Its architectural design draws inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar