Jagan on Bhogapuram Airport Then and Now

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation stone for the Bhogapuram International Airport in Vizianagaram district on Wednesday. He described the airport would be the crown of north Andhra region. He also declared that the airport would be a source of employment for the local youth. He claimed that the YCP government had got all the clearances and permission for the airport and that the works are ready to take off.

At the same time, he also slammed the TDP leaders for claiming that their government had initiated the project. “Then why could they not ground the project during their tenure,” Reddy asked.

Soon the opposition parties reminded about what the CM spoke about the same airport when he was in the opposition. They criticized him for his double speak.

When in the opposition, Jagan said that there was no need of Bhogapuram airport because it would cause a lot of trouble to the farmers living on the land as they would be evacuated. “The Chennai international airport is operating in 1,283 acres and Kochi airport in 800 acres. Bhogapuram has only 350 acres and in what way would that be sufficient? It would be better if the government thinks of expanding the existing Vizag airport than plan for the new airport project.

This morning, Reddy said that the greenfield airport works would be completed by 2026 and exuded confidence that he would only inaugurate the airport. He said that the land required for the airport was also acquired and two gated community-type colonies were constructed for the farmers who parted with their land for the project, in the nearby village.

He also laid the stone for the Tarakarama Teertha Sagar project which would provide irrigation to 30,000 acres and drinking water to several villages in Vizianagaram district. He also laid stone for a fish landing centre at Chintapalli.