Vizianagaram: What was meant to be a proud milestone for Andhra Pradesh quickly turned into an embarrassing talking point after videos from the newly inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) International Airport at Bhogapuram went viral on social media.
The clips showed visitors plucking ornamental plants from landscaped areas, posing and playing with the water inside decorative fountains, and treating parts of the airport as a recreational park.
The videos spread rapidly online, drawing criticism from netizens who said the incidents reflected a worrying lack of civic sense. Many expressed disappointment that such behaviour unfolded on the day of the airport’s inauguration, arguing that world-class infrastructure also requires responsible public conduct and questioning whether locals were ready for such facilities meant to develop the North Andhra region.
Several users remarked that public spaces can only remain beautiful if citizens respect and protect them, while others urged authorities to enforce stricter security and impose penalties for vandalising or removing public property.
At the same time, some social media users called for a more constructive approach, saying awareness campaigns and better crowd management are equally important to help first-time visitors understand how public facilities should be used.
The incident has brought to the fore a broader conversation about civic responsibility in India, with many hoping the controversy serves as a reminder that maintaining public infrastructure is a shared responsibility between authorities and citizens alike.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram on August 1, 2026. The new aviation hub is scheduled to start commercial flight operations on August 17, 2026.
