A.P. Forest dept. urged to clear 16.25 acres of forest land to hasten road laying to Bhogapuram airport

With a ‘validation flight’ having been scheduled connected January 4 to trial the fittingness of the greenfield planetary airdrome astatine Bhogapuram adjacent here, the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has requested the Forest Department to wide 6.58 hectares (16.25 acres) of wood onshore adjacent the Adivivaram-Sonthyam roadworthy to expedite the enactment connected 7 masterplan roads linked to the airport.

Coordination is needed among the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC); the departments of Roads & Buildings, Panchayat Raj and Forests; and individuals who person parted with their onshore for the roads to laic these roads, spanning 26.72 km.

These roads are designed to easiness postulation connected the nationalist road and supply quicker entree to the caller airdrome for passengers from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

According to sources, the roadworthy projects person slowed down owing to onshore acquisition challenges, including clearances from the Forest department. Compensation options see cash, alternate sites and transferable improvement rights (TDRs). The 7 roads are being laid astatine an estimated ₹156 crore, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

Further, plans are afoot to widen 15 interior roads for amended connectivity astatine an estimated ₹390 crore. A projected six-lane formation corridor connecting Beach Road successful Visakhapatnam to the airdrome is nether development, with the Detailed Project Report (DPR) having finalised.

According to the accusation disposable with the VMRDA officials, backstage onshore indispensable beryllium acquired from 348 owners, who volition beryllium issued TDR bonds arsenic compensation.

“We person issued astir 180 TDRs retired of 348 arsenic connected December 31, 2025. We volition wide the remainder soon. None of the roadworthy widenings is ready. However, we are connected the close way to implicit the enactment wrong the deadline. We are besides alert that formation validation is scheduled to beryllium undertaken connected January 4,” a VMRDA authoritative told The Hindu on information of anonymity.