Jagan: Naidu's 'credit without contribution' on Bhogapuram airport
The political dispute over the Bhogapuram airport project intensified on Wednesday as YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of taking credit for an airport that he said was built by the previous YSRCP government. The Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The airport is located in the coastal district of Visakhapatnam and has been a key infrastructure project for North Andhra. The project has been a focal point of competition between the YSRCP, which was in power from 2019 to 2024, and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led government that succeeded it. Both parties have sought to claim ownership of the airport, making it a politically significant issue in the region.
In a post on social media platform X, Mr. Jagan welcomed the inauguration, stating that the airport would emerge as a major growth engine for North Andhra by boosting trade, tourism and investment. He said the Prime Minister's presence would bring international recognition to Bhogapuram and increase its visibility among investors and travellers. However, he added that Mr. Naidu's role in the project was that of "credit without contribution."
The former Chief Minister alleged that Mr. Naidu was attempting to appropriate the achievements of the previous YSRCP government. He said the TDP government had done little beyond laying the foundation stone shortly before the 2019 Assembly elections. "What tangible contribution has the Chief Minister made to this project?" Mr. Jagan asked.
Detailing the work done during his tenure, Mr. Jagan said his government signed the concession agreement with GMR in June 2020. He listed the completion of key milestones, including land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced families, site clearance, statutory approvals, security clearances, financial closure, water and power supply, internal roads and other supporting infrastructure.
According to Mr. Jagan, the YSRCP government spent nearly ₹1,200 crore on land acquisition, rehabilitation, water supply, infrastructure development, alternative roads and a power substation. This allowed construction to continue despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the runway had reached a crucial stage and terminal construction was progressing rapidly by the time his government demitted office in 2024.
He also noted that his administration had announced that flight operations from Bhogapuram would commence by June 2026. The airport is now ready for inauguration because of the groundwork completed during the YSRCP tenure, he maintained.
Mr. Jagan further criticised the present government for failing to provide adequate road connectivity to the airport. He said passengers travelling from Visakhapatnam, the largest city in the region, would face inconvenience because the proposed 55-km six-lane access road had not progressed. This is despite the TDP-led coalition being in power both in the State and at the Centre, he pointed out.
Urging the Chief Minister to stop claiming credit for projects executed by others, Mr. Jagan alleged that taking recognition without making a corresponding contribution had become Mr. Naidu's political style. He reiterated that the Bhogapuram airport stood as a testament to the YSRCP government's work, not the achievements of the present dispensation.
