APATA urges govt. to solve logistical issues before Bhogapuram airport inauguration

APATA calls on the government to resolve logistical issues before Bhogapuram airport opens, ensuring better connectivity and flight options.

Ahead of the launch of the Bhogapuram International Airport, the members of Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers’ Association (APATA) have urged the government to address temporary challenges likely to be faced by the air travellers from the city.

Addressing the media on Saturday, APATA president Kumar Raja and vice-president O. Naresh Kumar said that until flyovers, exclusive lanes or a high-speed airport expressway are built, the citizens will face logistical difficulties while commuting to Bhogapuram, which is around 50 km from the city.

He said that the current travel involves 13 to 22 traffic signals, heavy peak-hour congestion, and limited public transport, resulting in travel time ranging between 75 minutes and 120 minutes.

The practical travel time from the city to the airport is approximately 2 hours, in addition to the mandatory 2-hour early reporting time for flights, where the taxi fares from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram currently range between ₹2,500 and ₹4,000 per one-way drop or pickup, he pointed out.

Excluding air travel costs, passengers would be forced to spend an additional ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 per round trip, causing a significant financial burden, he said and expressed concern that due to traffic congestion, passengers would face an increased risk of missing flights.

APATA vice-president D.S. Varma urged the government to continue the operation of three morning flights from 5.30 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. and three evening flights from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. from the Visakhapatnam airport to major metro destinations.