Hyderabad: Despite the Telangana government’s efforts to improve air connectivity by building airports in Adilabad, Warangal, Kothagudem, Ramagundam, Nizamabad, and Mahbubnagar, concerns are being raised about the facilities’ long-term sustainability and best use. According to a retired air traffic controller who asked not to be named, “the government’s intention is good, but how far the public can be motivated to patronise regional flights can only be gauged one or two years after operations begin.”
Retired aviation experts warn that the new airports would encounter the same difficulties that smaller airports in Andhra Pradesh, Kurnool and Kadapa, have been dealing with in terms of technical constraints, passenger volume, accessibility, local economic viability, and general mobility patterns. The four main airports in Andhra Pradesh—Vishakhpatnam, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, and Vijayawada—have been in operation for many years, but the two more recent ones, Kadapa and Kurnool, have not yet attained the same volume of traffic. There are still very few flights per day,” he continued.
Despite being in line with the Central government’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) plan, aviation scholars and observers contend that Telangana’s airport drive may not be entirely compatible with the swift technology advancements in international aviation. According to aviation enthusiast and Mayday author Srujan Chowdary Panda, “companies worldwide are developing electric and propeller-driven aircraft—not only to enhance fuel efficiency but also to address environmental concerns.” Propeller-based and hybrid-electric aircraft are increasingly being used in smaller cities because they require shorter runways, create less turbulence, and present fewer dangers of bird strikes.
Significant advancements have been made at Warangal, Peddapalli, and Adilabad, according to representatives of the transport, highways, and buildings (airports) wing. The state approved the purchase of more than 280 acres earlier this month in order to expand the Mamnoor airport in Warangal. The project is expected to cost close to Rs 300 crore, of which Rs 90 crore has already been released. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been hired as a consultant for the pre-feasibility study of a proposed greenfield airport in Anthergoan in the Peddapalli district, which has been approved by the government with a budget of Rs 40.53 lakh. The plot is 591.24 acres in size, and Rs 40.5 lakh has been set aside for consulting.
A 3-kilometer runway is planned for Adilabad on land controlled by the Indian Army after the defence minister approved its joint civilian-military usage earlier this year. The State has approved the proposal to handle Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft after the AAI finished a master plan. With this, it becomes the second airport to be fully approved, after Warangal. Historically, Adilabad already has an airport at Shantinagar that dates back to the Nizam dynasty. “VIPs use the helipad there when they come to visit. The 369-acre property is owned by the IAF, which has long aimed to turn it into an Air Force base. The IAF granted a certificate of no objection to the State’s proposal for a joint-use airport. To support the project, an extra 250–300 acres are already being purchased, officials said. While the suggested locations at Kothagudem and Mahbubnagar still face major logistical and environmental challenges, the AAI has completed a Techno-Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR) for the Nizamabad airport.
Experts Continue to Have Doubts About Telangana’s Plans to Construct New Airports
