Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Monday, 22 June 2026, discussing three key state-centre defence and infrastructure matters, including land transfers for the prestigious Gandhi Sarovar project and development of Adilabad Airport.

Context

In a post on X, CM Revanth Reddy stated — 'ఈ రోజు ఢిల్లీలో కేంద్ర రక్షణ శాఖ మంత్రి శ్రీ రాజ్ నాథ్ సింగ్ తో భేటీ అయ్యాను' ('Today I met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi') — outlining the three-point agenda of the meeting. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Defence Ministry for transferring land for the Gandhi Sarovar project, described as a prestigious initiative for Telangana.

Revanth Reddy also informed the Union Minister that the Telangana state government would extend full cooperation on land acquisition and utility relocation required for the development of Adilabad Airport. The airport project, which serves a region in northern Telangana, requires coordinated action between state agencies and central authorities before construction can advance.

Policy Backdrop

Telangana has actively pursued rationalisation of defence land holdings and expansion of civilian infrastructure since the state's formation in 2014. Defence land exchanges — where parcels held by the Ministry of Defence are transferred to state governments for public projects in return for alternative sites or compensation — are a recognised mechanism used across Indian states.

The Gandhi Sarovar project is among the high-profile civilian schemes that required such a land exchange with the Defence Ministry, and the Chief Minister's public acknowledgement signals that this transfer has now been formalised. Regional airport development in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities has also been a national priority, with states expected to facilitate land and utility groundwork before central agencies proceed with construction.

DRDO Facility at Devarakadra

A significant ask in the meeting was CM Revanth Reddy's appeal to Rajnath Singh for expedited approval of a key project by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and its missile systems laboratory DRDL at a site already identified near Devarakadra in Mahbubnagar district. The Chief Minister urged the Centre to clear the project swiftly, indicating that the location has already been selected by the defence research bodies.

A DRDO/DRDL facility in Mahbubnagar would mark a significant expansion of India's defence research footprint beyond the existing cluster in Hyderabad, potentially bringing high-skilled employment and strategic infrastructure to the district. The approval process now rests with the central government.

Stakeholders and Impact

Communities in Adilabad stand to benefit from improved air connectivity if the airport project moves forward with state-backed land and utility support. Residents and local administrations in Devarakadra, Mahbubnagar district are the primary stakeholders in the proposed DRDO facility, which could catalyse ancillary economic activity in the area.

The Gandhi Sarovar land transfer, now acknowledged as complete, clears a long-standing bottleneck for that project's execution. State officials, DRDO laboratories, and central defence planners are all active participants in the outcomes of this high-level meeting.

What's Next

The central approval process for the Devarakadra DRDO/DRDL project will be the most closely watched outcome of this meeting, as it involves a formal sanction from the Ministry of Defence. Formal steps on Adilabad Airport land acquisition and utility relocation are expected to follow state-level coordination processes. CM Revanth Reddy's proactive outreach to the Union Defence Minister signals Telangana's intent to accelerate these projects through direct political engagement at the Centre, setting the stage for potential announcements in the coming months.