Vijayawada: A call for improved road and rail connectivity to the Bhogapuram International Airport has been made by air travellers from Visakhapatnam as the aviation facility is expected to be operational by June next. Improved connectivity is required for a distance of 50 to 60km, they say.Air travellers say it takes nearly 2.30 to 3 hours to reach the airport from Visakhapatnam, especially during the peak hours. The government is urged to complete the construction of 12 flyovers and the coastal corridor in 18 months.They also underscored the need to extend the proposed metro rail project up to the airport. It was sanctioned only up to a place near Madhurawada so that it helps the people from the steel city to reach the Bhogapuram airport without facing the traffic snarls.The air travellers say cab drivers are charging Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 for a trip to Bhogapuram from Visakhapatnam.Meanwhile, work is going on at a brisk pace at the airport for installation of air-conditioning facilities etc.However, in a setback, Malaysia Airlines has decided to stop its services from Visakhapatnam International Airport from January for want of patronage from air passengers. The airport lacked cargo service.Air travellers are seeking direct flights to Sri Lanka and Dubai, instead of going via Hyderabad, to Dubai. They say that if the cargo services are launched at the Visakhapatnam airport, it will be of immense benefit for those seeking to send their cargo to various destinations.Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers Association secretary Naresh Kumar said, “Even as the works at Bhogapuram International Airport are going on at a brisk pace, there is a need to develop road and rail connectivity covering nearly 50-60 km from the city to reach the airport simultaneously, so that it helps people to reach the airport without facing any trouble.”
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