Visakhapatnam Builds 10 Highway Links to Airport
Visakhapatnam finalizes 10 highway links to Bhogapuram Airport to reduce travel time to one hour
Visakhapatnam Adds 10 Highway Links to Airport
Travelers heading to Bhogapuram Airport will soon have faster routes as Visakhapatnam prepares 10 new highway connections to National Highway 16. Officials are finalizing alignment changes and junction points for the proposed links, which aim to cut travel times from major urban centers to approximately one hour. The airport, named after freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, is expected to begin operations in July.
Context
The road connectivity initiative supports the upcoming Bhogapuram greenfield international airport in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalle districts. Currently, commuters from Anakapalle, around 77 km away, can take nearly two hours to reach the airport zone due to congestion. The new network will improve access from multiple parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Transit officials said the infrastructure improvements are essential for handling anticipated passenger volumes once the airport becomes operational.
Details
Authorities plan to connect 10 additional roads to National Highway 16 as part of the connectivity package. A separate six-lane beach corridor road is also planned to offer another high-capacity route to the airport zone. The transport network is designed to bring most major urban centers within approximately one hour of the airport once completed. Officials said the beach corridor will provide an alternative high-capacity route for airport-bound traffic.
Timeline
The airport is expected to begin operations in July, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to inaugurate the facility during the foundation ceremony for a Google data center. Officials are finalizing alignment changes and junction points for the proposed highway links, though specific completion dates for individual road connections weren't provided. The state intends to introduce the new bus services in phases to coincide with airport operations.
Impact
The state intends to introduce around 100 air-conditioned buses, largely electric, in phases to serve airport passengers. Dedicated bus terminals for electric fleets are already being developed in Gajuwaka and Simhachalam to support seamless airport transfers. Riders can track real-time bus schedules and plan trips to the new airport connections through Moovit's trip planning features.
