Visakhapatnam airport should stay as domestic airport after Bhogapuram, says BJP’s Vishnu Kumar Raju

BJP floor leader in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Visakhapatnam North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju on Sunday (June 14, 2026) reiterated that the Visakhapatnam airport should continue to function as a domestic airport even after the Bhogapuram airport becomes operational.

Addressing a press conference along with BJP district president M.M.N. Parasurama Raju at the party office in the city, Mr. Vishnu Kumar Raju said lakhs of passengers currently used the Visakhapatnam airport, and the additional travel time to reach Bhogapuram would inconvenience people. He said airport services should continue as usual until fuel prices came down, adding that retaining both airports would serve the interests of north Andhra residents and improve regional connectivity.

He said the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre had completed 4,400 days in office, providing stable governance focused on development and welfare, and had implemented domestic and foreign policy initiatives while fulfilling commitments to the people. Schemes for housing and household toilets for the poor had benefited millions across the country, he said, adding that railway stations were being modernised under the Amrit Bharat scheme and crediting the Modi government with securing the Visakhapatnam Railway Zone.

Mr. Kumar Raju dismissed claims that the zone had lost viability owing to the exclusion of certain revenue-generating stations, and said the State coalition government would provide the land required for the permanent zonal headquarters, besides allocating large funds to develop Visakhapatnam into a mega city.

He said the BJP would hold a public meeting in Visakhapatnam on June 19, and said people had voted out the previous government in 2024, entrusting the coalition government with welfare and development.

State spokesperson Suhasini Anand and district media convener T. Koteswara Rao were present.