KCR To Build 6 More Domestic Airports

Telangana Chief Minister KCR, who is trying to do overall development, has decided to set up six domestic airports in the state. For this, he sought the help of the Airport Authority of India (AAI). While Andhra Pradesh has five airports, Telangana has only one international airport at Shamshabad. Though there is a Begumpet Airport in the state, it is not used for commercial purposes.

Telangana government wants to build airports in tier 2 cities of Adilabad, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Nizamabad, Peddpalli, and Warangal. There were airports in Nizamabad, Peddapalli and Warangal which were shut down earlier. The AAI has completed the aerial survey on the places where the airports were proposed, and it was paid Rs 4.5 crores consultancy fee for this job.

While the AAI is opting for Warangal, the Union Ministry of Defence is voting for Adilabad. The infrastructure and investment department has sanctioned Rs. 1.06 crores. In Warangal, the airport has been planned at Mamnoor, while in Peddapalle, it is being planned at Basantnagar. In Nizamabad, the airport would be set up at Jakranpally and in Adilabad, a place near the town is still being searched.

In Khammam, the airport will be at Kothagudem and in Mahbubnagar at Addakula. Though all other planned places are fine, there is a technical issue with the Warangal airport. There should be no airport to function within a 150 km radius of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) as per an agreement the airport developers GMR made with the then united Andhra Pradesh government. Let’s see how this whole issue turns out to be.