State government takes fresh steps to set up airport in Peddapalli

The Telangana government has identified 591 acres in Anthargoan mandal for a Greenfield airport in Peddapalli. A pre-feasibility study by AAI has been sanctioned, reviving local hopes after Basanthnagar was deemed unsuitable due to terrain and IAF training restrictions

Peddapalli: The proposal to establish an airport in Peddapalli district has once again come into focus with the State government taking fresh initiatives.

The government has identified 591 acres of land in Anthargoan mandal and issued a Government Order (GO) sanctioning Rs.40.53 lakh to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to carry out a pre-feasibility study. This has rekindled hopes among local residents for an airport.

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In the 1980s, Kesoram Cement Factory authorities had developed an airstrip at Basanthnagar by leasing government land and used it for landing Vayudoot aircraft. However, the airstrip was abandoned after Vayudoot services were discontinued.

There has been a longstanding demand from residents to establish an airport near the Basanthnagar airstrip. However, their hopes were dashed following a clarification from the Civil Aviation Ministry that the site was not feasible for airport development.

In response to a letter from Peddapalli MP G Vamsi Krishna, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu informed on January 29, 2025, that Basanthnagar was unsuitable for airport construction.

Based on the Techno Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR), the AAI stated that the site was not viable due to high hills surrounding the area, which create obstacles for flight approaches. It is also located within restricted airspace extensively used for flying training by the Indian Air Force (IAF) Academy, requiring clearance from the Ministry of Defence.

Following these objections, the State government explored alternative sites and identified 591 acres in Anthargoan mandal for setting up a Greenfield Airport. On October 11, a GO was issued, and Rs.40.53 lakh was sanctioned to AAI for conducting the pre-feasibility study.

During the Nizam era, an A-Thermal Power Station was constructed near Ramagundam in 1946. Later, about 3,696.32 acres of land were acquired in Rayadandi, Anthargoan and Goliwada for the proposed Azamabad Industrial City. However, the industrial city project did not materialise for various reasons, and the lands were categorised as ‘Kurjukammi lands’ (assigned land) by the Revenue Department.

Of these, 1,165.18 acres of Kurjukammi lands are located on the outskirts of Anthargoan village, with 147.14 acres allotted for the BJP Power Plant. Besides these, lands belonging to BPL and textile industries are also available for potential development.lopment.