Report: Vizag To Have A Key Immigration Office

Visakhapatnam city in Andhra Pradesh has become the cynosure of the nation since the NDA coalition government took charge of the state in 2024. The city has been buzzing with activity as several new projects are coming up to transform it into a cosmopolitan centre in the next few years. Recently, an International Airport was flagged off in the city. 

Now, as per print media reports, the Bureau of Immigration (BOI), which operates under the Central Home Ministry of India, is soon going to set up its office in Vizag. Acquisition of land at a close proximity to city limits for construction of a sprawling office has already been completed and next stage of works are currently underway. 

The BOI is an immigration watchdog which acts as a check post at sea ports and airports. The government agency was established in 1971 and works under Central Home Minister. It handles 48 of the 108 immigration check posts across the country. The remaining are under the direct control of the state government. 

As Vizag boasts a natural sea port and an airport, there will be wide range of exports and imports and influx of passengers from other states and countries. Once the Bhogapuram Airport starts its operations, there will be big surge in passenger inflow and the volume of exports and imports are likely to multiply in the coming years. 

Due to shortage of staff and lack of proper monitoring, adequate immigration checks are not being carried out at present. Hence, the Home Ministry decided to set up a dedicated office for Bureau of Immigration in Vizag to handle the immigration checks. 

The BOI will come up in the area relating to VMRDA near the Ozone layout of Marikavalasa in the outskirts of Vizag. An Optical Character Recognition complex will be built in the land purchased by BOI.