Bhogapuram airport to introduce AC lounges, shuttle bus network for passengers
Passengers travelling to and from the upcoming Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram will soon have access to air-conditioned waiting lounges at select locations across Visakhapatnam, where they can board dedicated airport shuttle buses.
In the first phase, four air-conditioned lounges, set up in specially designed 40-foot container units, will be opened for public use. Proposed locations include RTC Complex (Asilmetta), Waltair Railway Station, MVP Colony, RK Beach, Rushikonda, NAD Junction, Car Shed Junction, Anandapuram, and Gajuwaka.
The shuttle network will be supported by around 100 air-conditioned electric buses, allotted to Visakhapatnam to provide dedicated connectivity between the city and the Bhogapuram airport. The services are expected to operate on the lines of Hyderabad’s Pushpak airport bus system, offering frequent and affordable transfers for both arriving and departing passengers.
Officials said the system is designed to improve last-mile connectivity to the greenfield airport being developed by the GMR Group, about 45 km from the city. The Visakhapatnam Air Travellers’ Association (VATA) said the initiative followed its representations and described it as a first-of-its-kind model in the country.
VATA vice-president O. Naresh Kumar, who is also a member of the Airport Advisory Committee, said the association had urged authorities to exempt passengers using the new airport from user development charges, citing longer travel times and higher costs associated with reaching Bhogapuram.
The association has further appealed for the introduction of additional international services from Bhogapuram, including to Dubai, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and London.
At present, Visakhapatnam has a direct international service to Singapore operated by Scoot. IndiGo is expected to resume its Abu Dhabi service on August 14 after a suspension due to disruptions in West Asia. Earlier, direct flights to Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok were discontinued due to operational constraints and limited demand.
The existing Visakhapatnam International Airport, operating as a civil enclave within INS Dega, will cease commercial operations once the Bhogapuram airport becomes operational.
While the ₹4,500-crore first phase of the Bhogapuram airport is nearing completion, the inauguration date has not been officially announced. Earlier speculation suggested a possible July 8 inauguration by the Prime Minister.