Following a report by The Hindu Collector orders GMR to repair roads damaged during construction of Bhogapuram airport

A heavy vehicle exits the back gate of ASR airport towards the National Highway through Dulibbalapalem village in Bhogapuram mandal, Vizianagaram district. | Photo credit: VIZIANAGARAM

Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) directed GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL) to immediately repair the roads in and around the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram, which were severely damaged by heavy vehicles during construction. He also asked them to lay new roads where needed, using corporate social responsibility (CSR) or other funds, so that people in the villages adjacent to the airport can travel smoothly.

The Hindu reported the plight of the people of Dibbalapalem, Ravada, Byreddipalem, Gudepuvalasa, Kancheru and other villages in the report “Roads damaged during Bhogapuram airport construction leave villages cut off, farmers unable to reach fields”, published on 12 October 2026. Responding to the report, they asked G. collector’s official VI to repair roads and higher income VI officials. immediately.

The report said many villages were cut off from each other after the airport was built on nearly 2,500 acres, and farmers could not take their produce home or carry fertilizer to their fields because access roads were damaged. Officials said the work was delayed by a lack of funds.

“We have directed the GVIAL authorities to start repairing the roads immediately as many farmers have complained that they are also unable to move to their agricultural fields. Access roads have been damaged and connectivity between many villages has been disrupted. We will constantly monitor the issue and ensure road repairs very soon,” Mr. Ramsundar Reddy told The Hindu.

Service road connection

He said he has asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials to ensure connectivity between the airport and service roads of the national highway as soon as possible. “During the return journey from the airport, everyone has to move to six-lane roads instead of service roads. NHAI has assured to make the necessary changes within a few weeks,” he said. Commuters on service roads now have to travel at least eight kilometers to reach the expressway, the only way to the airport, The Hindu reported.

The Collector said NHAI will also widen the service road to merge traffic with the six-lane road near the Rajapulova junction. Once improvements are made at the junction, which lies between Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam, there will be no congestion on the service road at Rajapulova, he said.

Published – October 13, 2026 12:21 PM IST