Vishnu Kumar Raju bats for dual-airport model for Vizag

BJP Visakhapatnam North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju on Sunday suggested that domestic flight services to destinations within Andhra Pradesh continue to operate from the existing Visakhapatnam Airport even after the inauguration of the Bhogapuram International Airport, scheduled in the first week of July.

Addressing the media, Mr. Raju said shifting all air traffic operations to Bhogapuram could lead to increased fuel consumption at a time when fuel availability has become a concern due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for fuel conservation, he questioned the need for passengers to travel longer distances to reach the new airport.

The MLA said Visakhapatnam Airport handled about 29.3 lakh passengers in 2025 and argued that travellers to destinations such as Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Tirupati would prefer using the existing airport. He also cited concerns over the additional travel time involved in reaching Bhogapuram.

Mr. Raju suggested that international and long-distance domestic flights, including services to New Delhi and other major cities, could operate from Bhogapuram, while flights to destinations within Andhra Pradesh continue from Visakhapatnam Airport. Pointing out that cities such as Mumbai and Goa have more than one airport, he said a similar model could be adopted for Visakhapatnam. He also called for expanding Vande Bharat train services from the city.