Authorities in the Visakhapatnam and Anakapalle districts are planning to link 10 additional roads to National Highway 16, providing enhanced access to the upcoming greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram. Officials are currently finalizing the variation locations to connect these roads in the near future.
Existing Road Development
It is recalled that authorities have already initiated the construction or widening of seven roads on a war footing to connect with NH16 and reach Bhogapuram Airport. Apart from these, a new six-lane beach corridor road will also be constructed soon.
Travel Time Reduction
The planned 10 new roads aim to reduce travel time to Bhogapuram to within an hour. A senior official from the Visakhapatnam district stated, "All these roads would ease the traffic woes for air travelers." Presently, it takes two hours to reach Bhogapuram Airport from Anakapalli (approximately 77 km) due to traffic snarls, even though the six-lane Anakapalli-Ananadapuram highway provides a hassle-free journey. From Visakhapatnam, a 46-km stretch, it takes one hour and 30 minutes, while from Gajuwaka and its surroundings, a 63-km stretch, it takes one hour and 40 minutes. Once the 10 new roads are completed, air travelers will be able to reach Bhogapuram within an hour.
Airport Inauguration and Operations
The greenfield airport, named after revolutionary leader Alluri Sitarama Raju, is expected to commence operations in July. During the groundbreaking ceremony of the Google Data Centre on April 28, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that the airport would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Electric Bus Deployment
The government is also planning to deploy around 100 AC buses, most of them electric, in a phased manner. These buses will operate according to flight schedules. Bus stations for electric buses are being constructed in the Gajuwaka and Simhachalam areas of the port city.
