Bhogapuram International Airport marked a significant moment as its first flight landed earlier today. The arrival of the validation test flight has been described as historic by officials and industry observers across the state.
The test flight arrived from Delhi and carried Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu. Vizianagaram MP Kalisetti Appalanaidu, the ATC Chairman, and other officials were also on board during the landing.
The airport is being built using state-of-the-art technology. The GMR company stated that 96 percent of construction work has been completed. The airport is scheduled to be inaugurated on June 26th.
The development dominated headlines across state news channels. This visibility has triggered a political credit war, with YSR Congress stepping in to claim ownership of the project.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy posted a detailed message on X asserting credit for the airport. Soon after, the party’s social media teams began pushing narratives highlighting YSR Congress’ role in the project.
The concept of a Greenfield International Airport at Bhogapuram was originally envisioned by the Telugu Desam Party. The project was announced in 2015, and the foundation stone was laid with plans for an aerotropolis spanning over 5,000 acres.
The existing airport at Vishakapatnam is operated by the Navy. Expansion there has been challenging due to security constraints, leading to the proposal of Bhogapuram International Airport to support the region’s growth.
However, the then Opposition Party opposed the project. It allegedly instigated farmers during land acquisition and filed multiple court cases, which significantly delayed construction.
Due to these legal hurdles, the project did not progress as planned. Observers note that without these cases, the airport could have been completed much earlier.
During CBN’s regime, around 50 percent of land acquisition was completed. Jagan alleged irregularities in the process but did not return any acquired land during his tenure.
After coming to power, Jagan later acknowledged the project’s importance. He laid a second foundation stone on May 3, 2023, marking a shift in approach towards the airport.
He also alleged irregularities in awarding the airport contract to the GMR Group. Despite these claims, the same GMR Group continued to execute the project during his government.
This sequence of events has led YSR Congress to seek credit for the airport. Political observers have questioned the timing and intent behind these claims.
Critics have drawn parallels with the HITEC City example. Credit was given to Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy merely for laying a foundation stone, while broader contributions were overlooked.
Analysts argue that had YSR Congress acted as a responsible opposition earlier, it could have earned rightful credit. Instead, past actions are now resurfacing in public discourse.
Videos of Jagan allegedly instigating farmers have gone viral on social media. These clips are being widely shared and have become an embarrassment for YSR Congress.
