Hans News Service Hyderabad

A final decision on the Adilabad airport project will take off after a joint survey by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Defence, and the State Government to conduct an on-site Obstacle Limitation Survey (OLS) on April 17.

Following this survey, a final decision on the runway's orientation will be made, and following that field visit--and after obtaining clearance from the Defence Ministry--approval will be granted for the master plan.

Subsequently, steps will be taken to plan for the foundation-laying ceremony.

These details were disclosed by the Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu following a high-level meeting on the issue of approval for the Adilabad airport in the national capital on Wednesday.

Joined by the Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, they announced the Centre’s readiness to give a boost to Telangana’s aviation infrastructure with Warangal and Adilabad airports. Kishan Reddy highlighted that Adilabad, which already hosts a defence airstrip, has been in demand for a civilian airport for years.

He confirmed that discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu have led to a breakthrough, with the Defence Ministry agreeing to construct the airport, while the Airport Authority of India will build a civil terminal for passenger services.

Rammohan Naidu said that Telangana currently has only one airport --Hyderabad and expanding aviation facilities is a priority under the Prime Minister’s vision. He announced that the foundation stone for the Warangal airport will be laid within three months, while Adilabad’s project will move forward after the completion of the Obstacle Limitation Survey (OLS) on April 17. The Adilabad airport will require an additional 450 acres of land, for which the Telangana Government has responded positively to acquisition requests. Local representatives, including Adilabad MP Nagesh and MLA Payal Shankar, assured that there are no hurdles in land acquisition.

Officials from Civil Aviation, Defence, and the state administration participated in the meeting, which concluded on a highly positive note. The ministers emphasised that Adilabad’s strategic location makes it an ideal hub for tourism and commerce, with the potential to evolve into a major commercial centre.

This marks a significant step in decentralising aviation infrastructure in Telangana, ensuring that regions beyond Hyderabad gain access to air connectivity and economic opportunities, he added.

However, in the case of a proposal for an airport in Peddapalli, the State Government has submitted a proposal identifying a specific site and “our feasibility report also indicated favourable conditions for this location.”

Naidu said further steps on this project will be taken once we receive a formal written response from the State Government, and that it will require about 600 to 700 acres. Further, “If large-scale airports are to be developed with a view to the future, at least 1,200 acres of land are required,” he added.

However, regarding Kothagudem, the land allocated by the State Government is not feasible, and this was conveyed to the State Government, he clarified.