The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday (June 27, 2026) staged a bike rally demanding that the State government continue using the existing Visakhapatnam International Airport as a domestic airport even after the Bhogapuram International Airport becomes operational.

Addressing the media after a bike rally that took place from Jagadamba Junction to Maddilapalem, CPI(M) district secretary M. Jaggunaidu alleged that the government’s plan to close the decades-old Visakhapatnam Airport would adversely affect tourism, transportation, hospitality, trade, and service sectors, in addition to resulting in the loss of livelihoods for thousands of people.

He expressed concern over passengers being forced to spend additional time and incur higher travel expenses to reach Bhogapuram Airport. “It is the responsibility of the government to reduce people’s hardships, not increase them,” he said, accusing the NDA government of prioritising the interests of the GMR Group over those of the people of Visakhapatnam.

Taking a dig at MP M. Sribharat’s remarks that passengers would not face any inconvenience in traveling to Bhogapuram Airport, the CPI(M) leaders challenged the MP to travel like an ordinary passenger in a private taxi from Lankelapalem to Tagarapuvalasa. They stated that such a journey would help the MP understand the additional travel time and financial burden that commuters would have to bear.