Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of claiming credit for the Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport project despite making no significant contribution to its development. With the airport set to be inaugurated, Jagan alleged that the previous YSRCP government carried out all the crucial groundwork, while the present administration was focusing on publicity. He described the situation as an example of "credit without contribution" and criticised Naidu's political approach.

In a post on X, Jagan said the Bhogapuram Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport would become a major infrastructure asset for North Andhra, but argued that the achievements belonged to the YSRCP government. He claimed that Naidu's role was limited to laying the foundation stone shortly before the 2019 Assembly elections, while the subsequent YSRCP administration completed the project's essential milestones. According to Jagan, these included signing the concession agreement with GMR in June 2020, securing statutory approvals, acquiring land, rehabilitating displaced families, obtaining security clearances, and ensuring the provision of utilities and supporting infrastructure.

The YSRCP chief stated that his government invested around Rs 1,200 crore in land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, water supply, infrastructure development, alternative roads, and power facilities. He maintained that these investments enabled construction to continue despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jagan said runway development had reached a crucial stage by the 2024 elections, while terminal construction was progressing steadily. He added that his government had earlier announced plans to begin flight operations by June 2026, asserting that the airport was ready for inauguration because of the work undertaken during the YSRCP's tenure.

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Jagan also criticised the current government over the lack of adequate road connectivity between Visakhapatnam and the Bhogapuram airport. He recalled that his administration had persuaded the Central Government to approve a 55-kilometre, six-lane highway project, estimated to cost Rs 6,300 crore, to improve access to the airport. He noted that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had announced the project during the airport's foundation stone ceremony and questioned why there had been little visible progress despite both the State and Central governments being led by parties aligned with the ruling coalition.

Concluding his remarks, Jagan alleged that passengers would continue to face inconvenience due to inadequate connectivity and urged Chandrababu Naidu to stop taking credit for projects executed by previous governments. He argued that recognition should be based on actual work rather than political publicity and maintained that the Bhogapuram airport's completion reflected the efforts made during the YSRCP administration. The Andhra Pradesh government has not immediately responded to Jagan's latest allegations.

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