Hyderabad, June 28 -- The Visakhapatnam International Airport will cease civilian operations from July 8, when all commercial flight services are scheduled to shift to the newly built Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, around 50 km from the city, officials familiar with the development said.

"The existing airport at Visakhapatnam, which is under the control of the Indian Navy, will cease to handle civilian flights, with the greenfield Bhogapuram airport becoming the region's sole commercial aviation gateway," a senior Visakhapatnam district administration official said.

The airport, developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL) under the public-private partnership (P...