The imminent completion of Bhogapuram's greenfield international airport is being overshadowed by severe infrastructure gaps that threaten to make airport access a commuter's nightmare. While the airport itself is progressing rapidly toward its 2026 deadline, critical road projects designed to ease congestion remain stalled or delayed.
Airport Progress vs Road Development
Construction at Bhogapuram international airport has crossed the 92% completion mark, with test flights scheduled for January 2026 and full operational capability expected by June 2026. However, the very roads meant to connect Visakhapatnam to this new aviation hub are stuck in planning and implementation delays.
The Visakhapatnam-Bhogapuram stretch has become notorious for chronic traffic bottlenecks that worsen daily. Originally, authorities proposed 12 new flyovers to address this issue, but these have now been merged into the Vizag metro rail project. This integration has pushed the timeline back significantly, with tendering still incomplete and works expected to take at least three more years.
Revised Infrastructure Blueprint
The current plan involves a 14-kilometer combined road flyover and metro corridor featuring eight flyovers between Car Shed Junction and Thatichetlapalem. Additionally, a 4-kilometer structure will facilitate two more flyovers at Gajuwaka and the Vizag steel plant area.
Meanwhile, the VMRDA has initiated seven master plan roads worth approximately Rs 175 crore, but progress remains hampered by land acquisition challenges. These roads were specifically designed to provide relief to the national highway and create alternative connectivity routes.
Another promising project—the greenfield coastal highway from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram—has seen no notable movement since receiving in-principle approval from the Union Government. This planned 200-kilometer corridor aims to link Mulapeta port in Santabommali with Bhogapuram airport and Bheemili in Visakhapatnam district.
Commuters Bear the Brunt
The reality for daily commuters is already grim. A passenger traveling from NAD Junction to the airport encounters nearly 20 traffic signals before reaching Anandapuram, a journey that can take 60 to 90 minutes depending on congestion. After this exhausting segment, another 20 kilometers of travel to Bhogapuram remains.
Regular commuters express growing concern. A Ram Kumar, who travels daily by engineering college bus to Rajapulova junction, reports it already takes close to an hour to reach from MVP Colony. "Traffic is increasing rapidly. Faster corridors are essential for airport passengers. Otherwise, reaching the airport will become a daunting task," he stated.
N Dhana Raju, a regular commuter from PM Palem to the city, confirms the worsening situation. "My travel time has nearly doubled in five years. Even service roads in areas like PM Palem and Kommadi are unable to handle the growing volume. Something must be done," he emphasized.
Without immediate progress on flyovers or alternative roads, many fear the road journey to Bhogapuram airport might exceed the duration of domestic flights, creating an ironic situation where reaching the airport takes longer than the flight itself.
