At a time when preparations are under way for the inauguration of the much-awaited Bhogapuram airport in the first week of July, BJP Visakhapatnam North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju on Sunday suggested that either the launch be postponed for a few months until fuel availability improves or that domestic flight services, particularly those connecting destinations within Andhra Pradesh such as Vijayawada, Hyderabad and Tirupati, continue operating from the existing Visakhapatnam Airport.

Addressing the media here, Mr. Vishnu Kumar Raju expressed concern over the increased fuel consumption that could result from shifting all air traffic operations to Bhogapuram. Referring to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia and their impact on fuel supplies and prices, he said fuel availability had become a critical issue. Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation, he questioned whether requiring passengers to travel longer distances to Bhogapuram Airport would be consistent with that objective.

Drawing a parallel with the recent Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Mahanadu, which was conducted virtually, the MLA said the decision reflected the Prime Minister’s call to reduce unnecessary travel and save fuel.

Mr. Vishnu Kumar Raju noted that Visakhapatnam Airport handled about 29.30 lakh passengers between January 1 and December 31, 2025. He said a large number of travellers flying to destinations such as Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Tirupati would prefer using the existing airport rather than travelling to Bhogapuram.

According to him, many residents of Visakhapatnam are concerned about the additional travel time involved in reaching Bhogapuram Airport, which could take up to two hours. As an alternative, he urged the government to increase the number of Vande Bharat train services connecting Visakhapatnam with major destinations across the State.

The MLA also pointed out that cities such as Goa and Mumbai operate more than one airport and questioned why a growing city like Visakhapatnam could not have both the existing airport and the new Bhogapuram Airport functioning simultaneously. He suggested that international flights and long-distance domestic services, including those to New Delhi and other major cities, could operate from Bhogapuram, while flights to destinations within Andhra Pradesh continue from Visakhapatnam Airport.

“This is the opinion of nearly 98% of the people of Visakhapatnam. If I say more, some may term it politics, but someone has to voice public opinion,” Mr. Vishnu Kumar Raju said.