BJP MLA seeks more Vande Bharat train services from Vizag

Even as the flight validation test was successfully conducted at the greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram recently, concerns are being raised over the logistical and financial burden the shift may impose on domestic air travellers to shorter routes such as Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad.

BJP MLA (Visakhapatnam North) P. Vishnu Kumar Raju has sought the urgent intervention of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to introduce new and additional Vande Bharat overnight trains from Visakhapatnam to the key destinations, including Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Tirupati.

In a letter addressed to the Railway Minister, Mr. Raju highlighted that the proposed shifting of flight operations from the existing city airport to Bhogapuram—slated for June or July 2026—would significantly increase travel time for the city’s 2.5 lakh monthly air passengers.

The MLA said that the journey from Visakhapatnam to the new airport in Vizianagaram district takes approximately two hours. When coupled with the mandatory two-hour pre-departure check-in, the total door-to-door travel time for short-haul sectors such as Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada would escalate to six hours.

“Apart from the loss of time, there will also be a financial burden. Taxi fares to Bhogapuram are expected to range between ₹2,500 and ₹4,000, which in many cases exceed the actual airfare to destinations such as Vijayawada,” Mr. Raju noted, while arguing that enhancing Vande Bharat services could save between ₹600 crore and ₹900 crore in annual fuel costs by reducing the dependency on private cabs to the distant airport.

The MLA emphasised that with the Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER) targeting a $130 billion GDP and 20 million new jobs by 2032, robust and affordable rail connectivity is essential.

Terming Vande Bharat trains as a ‘logical, economical, and passenger-friendly alternative’, Mr. Raju requested the Ministry to prioritise the routes Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada, citing a competitive 4.5-hour travel time, and the introduction of overnight or additional services to Hyderabad, Tirupati, Bengaluru, and Chennai.

“Transitioning air travellers to high-speed rail for regional sectors is the need of the hour to prevent Visakhapatnam from becoming an expensive and time-consuming travel hub. So, the Railway Minister will hopefully consider our pleas,” the MLA said.