Thu Jan 15 09:16:50 UTC 2026: ### Bhogapuram Airport Shift Sparks Concerns; Calls for Enhanced Rail Connectivity

The Story:

A planned shift of flight operations from Visakhapatnam’s existing airport to the new greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram is raising concerns about increased travel time and costs for domestic air travelers. MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju is advocating for the introduction of new and additional Vande Bharat overnight trains to key destinations to mitigate these challenges. The shift, slated for June or July 2026, is expected to significantly increase travel time for the city’s 2.5 lakh monthly air passengers, prompting calls for urgent intervention from the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Key Points:

  • Flight operations are scheduled to move from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram in June/July 2026.
  • The journey to the new airport will take approximately two hours, potentially increasing total travel time for short-haul flights to six hours with pre-departure check-in.
  • Taxi fares to Bhogapuram are estimated to range from ₹2,500 to ₹4,000, potentially exceeding the cost of flights to destinations like Vijayawada.
  • MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju has requested the introduction of Vande Bharat trains to key destinations including Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Tirupati.
  • The Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER) aims for a $130 billion GDP and 20 million new jobs by 2032, emphasizing the need for robust rail connectivity.

Key Takeaways:

  • The relocation of Visakhapatnam’s airport to Bhogapuram poses logistical and financial challenges for air travelers.
  • Enhanced rail connectivity, specifically through Vande Bharat trains, is being proposed as a viable solution to mitigate the negative impacts of the airport relocation.
  • The development of the Visakhapatnam Economic Region hinges on affordable and efficient transportation infrastructure.
  • This situation highlights the need for integrated transportation planning that considers both air and rail connectivity.
  • The MLA’s plea underscores the importance of government intervention to ensure equitable access to transportation amidst infrastructural changes.

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