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Telangana's Adilabad to Get New Defence-Civil Airport with A320 Runway

The Civil Aviation Ministry has announced a new joint defence-civil airport for Adilabad in Telangana, requiring an additional 450 acres of land. The facility will feature a runway capable of handling Airbus A320 aircraft and includes a defence training facility. A high-level meeting involving key ministers finalized the decision, with a field visit and masterplan approval pending. The airport aims to fulfill regional aspirations, boost tourism, and improve connectivity, as Hyderabad's airport is currently 300 km away.

Key Points: Adilabad Defence-Civil Airport Approved for Telangana

  • Defence airstrip to be upgraded into major airport
  • Runway capable of handling Airbus A320 aircraft
  • Strategic site with defence training facility
  • Will boost regional economy and tourism
  • Part of Telangana's broader airport expansion plan
3 min read

Adilabad airport to host joint defence-civil operations​

A new joint defence-civil airport in Adilabad, Telangana, gets green light. It will feature an A320-capable runway and boost regional connectivity.

"Now moving beyond and recognising the strategic importance of the site, the Ministry of Defence has decided to have a training facility for defence. - K. Ram Mohan Naidu"

Hyderabad, April 8

An airport for defence will be built at Adilabad in Telangana, which will have an enclave for civil operations, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said on Wednesday.​

While the defence already has an airstrip with 360 acres in Adilabad, the Civil Aviation Ministry has asked the state government to acquire another 450 acres for building the airport.​

The proposed airport will be a major facility with a runway capable of handling Airbus A320 aircraft.​

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting in New Delhi attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Ram Mohan Naidu, and Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy.​

Adilabad MP G. Nagesh, MLA Payal Shankar, officials from the Defence Ministry, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the state government also attended the meeting.​

Ram Mohan Naidu told media persons after the meeting that the Defence Ministry had already stated it has no objection to the development of an airport in a joint venture with the AAI.​

"Now moving beyond and recognising the strategic importance of the site, the Ministry of Defence has decided to have a training facility for defence. They will develop the airport, and for civil operations, they will provide an enclave," he said.​

The Civil Aviation Minister said the country already has 36 defence airports with enclaves for civil operations. Joint operation by civil and defence is a proven and successful concept across the country, he added.​

He announced that on April 17, a team of officials from defence, AAI, and the state government will do a field visit and conduct an Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) study. This will be followed by the preparation of a masterplan, which will require approval from the Ministry of Defence.​

Ram Mohan Naidu said once the state government acquires the required land, it can lay the foundation stone for the airport and commence the work as early as possible.​

He said development of the airport at Adilabad would fulfil a long-awaited aspiration of the people of the region. He called Adilabad an ideal location for an airport and said it would have strong demand in the future.

He added that the airport would develop the region into a hub and boost the local economy.​

He stated that there is no airport nearby. Hyderabad airport, currently the only civil airport in Telangana, is located 300 km away. Nagpur airport is 170 km from Adilabad, while Akola, with a small airport, is 150 km from Adilabad.​

The minister also noted that with a large tribal population, the Adilabad region has immense tourism potential.​

He said the foundation stone for the airport at Mamnoor in Warangal will be laid in three months. The state government has already given the land for building the airport.​

Regarding the proposed airport at Peddapalli, he said the state government had proposed a site, and the pre-feasibility study was positive.​

For the airport at Kothagudem, he said the proposed site was not found feasible. If the state government proposes an alternate site, a pre-feasibility study will be carried out, he added.​

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great for strategic defence and regional development. The tourism potential mentioned is key - better access can help showcase the tribal culture and natural beauty of the region. Hope local communities are involved in the planning and benefit from the jobs created.
R
Rohit P
While the intent is good, I hope this doesn't become another project stuck in delays. They mention 36 such airports already exist, so the model is proven. The key is execution. Also, 450 acres is a lot of land - hope the farmers are compensated fairly and promptly.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the collaboration between Defence and Civil Aviation. Efficient use of existing infrastructure makes sense. The focus on a masterplan and OLS study shows they are thinking about long-term safety and expansion. Hope it boosts the local economy as promised.
V
Vikram M
Jai Telangana! This is a major development for the northern districts. Warangal and Peddapalli airports also moving forward is excellent. Connectivity = progress. Hope the flights are affordable for common people and not just for the elite.
K
Karthik V
A respectful criticism: The article mentions a 'long-awaited aspiration'. Let's ensure this project doesn't remain just an aspiration. We've seen many airport announcements that took years to materialize. The timeline for the foundation stone and completion should be made public and adhered to. The people deserve timely development.
N

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