Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Delhi High Court Sends Vizag Airport Closure Plea to Andhra
A person asked the Delhi High Court to stop the closure of Visakhapatnam Airport for commercial flights.
The court did not decide whether the closure was right or wrong.
Instead, it said the case should be heard by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
This is because people in Visakhapatnam are most affected by the change.
A similar public-interest case is already pending there.
Commercial flights stopped on August 16.
Flights were moved to Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram.
The petitioner said closing the old airport for 30 years wastes public money and is unfair.
The Delhi High Court refused to entertain a plea challenging the closure of Visakhapatnam Airport to commercial flights.
The court said the Andhra Pradesh High Court was the appropriate forum because Visakhapatnam residents were primarily affected.
The petition was dismissed on grounds of forum non conveniens, while a related PIL is pending in Andhra Pradesh.
Commercial operations ended after IndiGo flight 6E 2018 departed for Delhi at 10:45 p.m. on August 16.
Petitioner Gopala Krishna Kosaraju called the 30-year ban arbitrary and cited more than Rs 250 crore in Airports Authority of India investment.
- Who
- The Delhi High Court, petitioner Gopala Krishna Kosaraju, the Andhra Pradesh High Court, and authorities responsible for the airport change.
- What
- The Delhi High Court dismissed a plea challenging the end of scheduled commercial flights at Visakhapatnam Airport.
- When
- The ruling was issued on Wednesday; commercial operations ended after the last flight departed on August 16, and the airport code changed on August 17.
- Where
- The plea was heard in Delhi, while the court said the Andhra Pradesh High Court was the proper forum; flights shifted to Bhogapuram.
- Why
- The court said the dominant cause of action and the affected residents were in Visakhapatnam, and a related PIL was already pending in Andhra Pradesh.
Petitioner's position
Court's position
Appropriate court
Petitioner's position
The petitioner sought relief in Delhi, arguing that the decision to close the airport was taken there.
Court's position
The court said the dominant cause of action was in Visakhapatnam and directed the petitioner to approach the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Effect of relocating flights
Petitioner's position
The petitioner argued that closing a centrally located, functional public airport and moving operations to an airport about 60 kilometers, or roughly two hours, away was arbitrary and high-handed.
Court's position
The court emphasized that the people suffering from the closure were in Visakhapatnam, not Delhi, but did not rule on the legality or merits of the closure.
Use of public assets
Petitioner's position
The petitioner said leaving the existing airport idle for scheduled commercial use after more than Rs 250 crore in public investment would be unreasonable and violate the Public Trust Doctrine.
Court's position
The Delhi High Court did not assess these claims because it dismissed the petition on forum grounds.
- Court decision
- The petition was dismissed on the ground of forum non conveniens.
- Recommended forum
- The petitioner was told to approach the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
- Last commercial flight
- IndiGo flight 6E 2018 to Delhi departed at 10:45 p.m. on August 16.
- Replacement airport
- Commercial operations shifted to Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram.
- Closure period
- The Union Aviation Ministry said scheduled commercial operations at Visakhapatnam Airport would cease for 30 years.
- Airport code
- The IATA code VTZ was transferred to the Bhogapuram airport from August 17.
- Public investment cited
- The petition said more than Rs 250 crore had been invested by the Airports Authority of India in the existing airport's terminal and airside infrastructure.
