Hyderabad, April 8 (NationPress) A new airport dedicated to defence operations is set to be established in Adilabad, Telangana, featuring a designated area for civil aviation, announced Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu on Wednesday.

Currently, there exists a 360-acre airstrip for defence use in Adilabad. The Civil Aviation Ministry has instructed the state government to secure an additional 450 acres for the development of the airport.

This forthcoming airport is expected to be a significant facility, equipped with a runway that can accommodate Airbus A320 aircraft.

A decision to proceed was reached during a meeting in New Delhi that included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Ram Mohan Naidu, and Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy.

Participants in the meeting also included Adilabad MP G. Nagesh, MLA Payal Shankar, along with officials from the Defence Ministry, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the state government.

Ram Mohan Naidu shared with reporters post-meeting that the Defence Ministry has indicated its support for the airport's development as a joint effort with the AAI.

“Recognizing the strategic significance of this location, the Ministry of Defence has opted to incorporate a training facility for defence purposes. They will oversee the airport's development while providing an enclave for civil operations,” he explained.

The Civil Aviation Minister highlighted that India already has 36 defence airports with civil operation enclaves, noting that the collaboration between civil and defence sectors has proven to be effective nationwide.

He announced that on April 17, a team comprising officials from defence, AAI, and the state government will visit the site to perform an Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) study, which will precede the preparation of a master plan requiring approval from the Ministry of Defence.

Once the land is acquired by the state government, the foundation stone for the airport could be laid, allowing construction to commence promptly.

Naidu conveyed that the establishment of the airport in Adilabad would fulfill a long-desired goal for the local populace and described Adilabad as an optimal site for an airport, anticipating strong future demand.

He added that the airport would transform the region into a hub, stimulating the local economy.

Notably, there is currently no nearby airport; the closest civil airport is in Hyderabad, located 300 km away. Nagpur airport is 170 km from Adilabad, and Akola, which has a smaller airport, is 150 km away.

Moreover, the minister pointed out that the Adilabad area, with its substantial tribal community, holds significant tourism potential.

He also mentioned that the foundation stone for the airport at Mamnoor in Warangal will be laid within three months, as the state government has already allocated the land for its construction.

Regarding the proposed airport at Peddapalli, he stated that the state government has suggested a site and that the pre-feasibility study yielded positive results.

For the airport at Kothagudem, he noted that the initially proposed site was deemed unfeasible. However, should the state government recommend an alternative site, a pre-feasibility study will be conducted.