With efforts in full swing to get the much-anticipated Bhogapuram International Airport operational from June 2026 India’s civil aviation Minister, Mr Ram Mohan Naidu has made it amply clear that once the greenfield airport is ready for operations all commercial flights will be operated from there.
Keeping the current poor road connectivity to the new airport in mind there has been growing clamour to keep the existing defence airport operational for at least domestic flights as flyers from the city will have an arduous task connecting to the new airport.
“There are no such plans of keeping both airports for civil operations. All commercial flights will be operational from Bhogapuram international airport once the airport is ready for operations” said the Union civil aviation minister responding to a question from Vizag Industrial Scan on the fate of commercial operations at the existing airport once the new airport is functional.
He however admitted that the present road connectivity to the greenfield airport is a challenge but that infrastructure/road connectivity is being worked upon aggressively.
“Seven Major roads have been identified from different parts of the district, which would all connect at different junctures to the highway leading to the airport. The Coastal Corridor Road or Beach Road is also coming upto the new airport. Similarly, a detailed project report (DPR) is also being prepared” said Mr Ram Mohan Naidu at a press meet held on the sidelines of a CII conference in the city of destiny.
Last month AP Air Travellers’ Association (APATA) had raised serious concerns about several logistical constraints for passengers connecting to the new airport with issues ranging from limited public transport, traffic bottlenecks, soaring taxi fares etc.
He however denied speculation of having two airports function parallelly for commercial operations.
Earlier while addressing the CII conference chief guest minister Mr Rama Mohan Naidu highlighted India’s unprecedented growth in the Civil aviation sector.
He also underscored Andhra Pradesh’s focus on inclusive growth and the myriad number of huge investments that the state has been able to garner under the leadership of AP’s chief Minister Mr N Chandrababu Naidu.
“Uttarandhra today has transformed into a global destination, with a series of high profile investments being committed into this region” said the Minister.
Mr Naidu noted various large-scale projects which are slated to come up in this region.
CII AP Chairman Mr G. Murali Krishna, President & Joint Managing Director, Greenko Group Mr Mahesh Koli, Chairman CII Southern region Mr Thomas John Muthooot, CII Vice Chairman Mr Narendra Kumar along with CII member Mr G Samba Siva Rao and many other dignitaries participated at the conference.
