Visakhapatnam airport may not continue after Bhogapuram opens: MP
Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat has indicated that operations at Visakhapatnam International Airport may not continue once the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport becomes operational, citing commitments made by the State government to the project developer.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday (June 16, 2026), he said the transition could be compared to Hyderabad’s shift from Begumpet Airport to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
He said that when the Shamshabad airport was inaugurated, there were concerns regarding its distance from the city, but improved road infrastructure, including the Outer Ring Road, significantly reduced travel time. Similar connectivity measures are being planned for Bhogapuram, he added.
The MP said the State government had assured the airport developer that no other airport would operate within a specified radius, and that the investment was made based on those assurances.
“The investor has placed trust in the government and invested heavily in the project. I do not believe the government will deviate from its commitment,” he said.
On infrastructure development, he said five of the seven planned road corridors connecting Visakhapatnam and Bhogapuram have been completed. One more is expected to be completed by the end of the month, while another, delayed due to works by the Roads and Buildings Department, will be taken up shortly.
He added that a dedicated Beach Road corridor is also under development, which is expected to reduce travel time on the 40-km stretch to around 20–25 minutes.
He further said that Visakhapatnam will soon receive 100 electric buses, with around 20 initially deployed on routes connecting the city and Bhogapuram airport.
On the State Cabinet’s approval of beach shacks along the coast, he said the decision had received both support and opposition, which is part of a democratic process. He said the shacks are intended to promote coastal tourism and will operate under strict regulations, including restrictions on liquor service and operating hours. He also dismissed concerns over women’s safety, stating that law and order would be maintained.