The much-publicised Bhogapuram international airport, located at about 50 km from Visakhapatnam is getting read for the inauguration in another couple of months. The test flight operations have already begun at the airport.
But what is causing worry to the people of Visakhapatnam is lack of proper connectivity to the new airport, making it difficult for them to go to the airport to catch flights on time.
There has been a criticism that the Naidu government, which is staking claim for the completion of Bhogapuram airport in a record time, has forgotten the fundamental requirement – of laying an express highway between Visakhapatnam and Bhogapuram.
This was pointed out by none other than Telugu Desam Party MLA from Bheemili Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
He raised the issue in the assembly stating that the road infrastructure has failed to keep pace with rapid urban expansion and rising vehicular density.
He pointed out that no major road expansion has taken place in Visakhapatnam over the past three decades.
During this period, he noted, both population and vehicle numbers have increased exponentially, placing enormous pressure on the city’s arterial roads.
He warned that the situation could deteriorate further once the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport becomes operational in June this year.
If proactive measures are not taken, traffic conditions in the port city could become “nightmarish,” he said.
Ganta said with major technology firms, including global players such as Google being set up in city, at least one lakh employees may relocate to Visakhapatnam for employment opportunities in the IT sector.
“If there is no proper road connectivity to the airport and expansion of roads in the city, it won’t attract further investments,” he said.
Earlier, Visakhapatnam North MLA and BJP leader P Vishnu Kumar Raju also made a similar comment saying there is a lack of infrastructure to operate flights from Bhogapuram International Airport.
“It's easier to go to Vijayawada on the Vande Bharat train than to travel from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram airport and from there to Vijayawada,’’ the BJP MLA remarked in the meeting.
Vishnu said passengers will face difficulties if the Bhogapuram airport is opened before internal road construction is completed has become a topic of discussion.
He also opposed closure of the existing Visakhapatnam airport.