CPM steps up demand to retain Visakhapatnam airport as domestic hub
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday intensified its campaign against the proposed closure of the existing Visakhapatnam International Airport, demanding that it continue to operate as a domestic airport even after the Bhogapuram International Airport becomes operational.
The party organised a bike rally from Jagadamba Junction to Maddilapalem, asserting that retaining the city’s existing airport was essential to safeguard public convenience and protect the region’s economic interests.
Addressing the media after the rally, CPI(M) district secretary M. Jaggunaidu alleged that shutting down the decades-old airport would have far-reaching consequences for Visakhapatnam. He said the move would adversely affect tourism, transportation, hospitality, trade and allied service sectors, besides jeopardising the livelihoods of thousands of people directly and indirectly dependent on airport-related activities.
He argued that relocating all flight operations to Bhogapuram would significantly increase travel time and transportation costs for passengers, particularly those residing in the northern parts of the city and neighbouring districts. “The government’s responsibility is to minimise public inconvenience, not compound it,” he said.
Mr. Jaggunaidu accused the NDA government of placing the commercial interests of the GMR Group above the welfare of the people of Visakhapatnam. He maintained that retaining the existing airport for domestic operations would ensure seamless connectivity for business travellers, tourists and local residents while supporting the city’s continued economic growth.
The CPI(M) leader also criticised the reported remarks of Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat that commuters would not face any inconvenience in travelling to Bhogapuram Airport. Challenging the MP’s assertion, party leaders urged him to undertake a journey like an ordinary passenger in a private taxi from Lankelapalem to Tagarapuvalasa to experience firsthand the additional travel time, traffic congestion and financial burden that commuters would be forced to bear.
Reiterating its demand, the CPI(M) called upon the State government to retain the existing Visakhapatnam airport as a domestic aviation hub while allowing Bhogapuram Airport to handle international operations. The party contended that such a dual-airport model would best serve the interests of passengers, sustain economic activity in the city and ensure balanced infrastructure development without disrupting public convenience.