Mamnoor Airport was once among the largest airports in undivided India. Spanning 1,875 acres with a 6.6-kilometer runway, the airport served as a strategic hangar for government aircraft when the Delhi Airport was at risk.
Published Mar 02, 2025 | 3:53 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 02, 2025 | 3:53 PM
Mamnoor Airport in the 1930s. (X)
Synopsis: Mamnoor Airport was once among the largest airports in undivided India. Spanning 1,875 acres with a 6.6-kilometer runway, the airport served as a strategic hangar for government aircraft when the Delhi Airport was at risk. The GMR Hyderabad Airport waived the 150-km exclusivity restriction for the airport in Warangal and the chief minister asked officials to complete the airport’s land acquisition process.
The forgotten Mamnoor Airport in Telangana’s Warangal district is set for revival. Established in 1930, the operations of the airport ceased in 1981. It was considered the largest airport in India ahead of independence, and was commissioned by the last Hyderabad Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan to benefit the paper industry in Kagaznagar.
With Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu approving the project on Friday, 28 February, expectations are high that it will provide a significant boost to Warangal’s economy.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday, 1 March, asked officials to develop the Mamnoor Airport similar to the one in Kochi, Kerala.
He wanted round-the-clock activity at the airport. “The airport should become an asset for Warangal,” he said. He asked them to brief him on the progress on a monthly basis.
The chief minister asked officials to complete the airport’s land acquisition process.
The Cochin International Airport at Kochi, Ernakulam, is the world’s first fully solar-powered airport. It is also the first airport in India built with public-private participation and was made operational.
Warangal, the second-most important city in Telangana after Hyderabad, is on a take-off point for transformation as the government intensifies its efforts to develop it across various sectors to ease the growing pressure on Hyderabad.
The redevelopment of this 1930s-era airport brings promising news for travellers heading to Warangal, a city steeped in history. The district is home to the UNESCO-listed Ramappa Temple and the renowned Thousand Pillars Temple, among other cultural landmarks.
“Mamnoor Airport was once a symbol of Telangana’s aspirations. It powered industries like Sirpur Paper Mills and Azam Jahi Mills,” entrepreneur and political activist Nayini Anurag Reddy remarked on X.
Before independence, it was among the only two airports in the Telangana region and later played a pivotal role in the 1962 Indo-China war. It hosted prime ministers and presidents and supported pilot training, cargo, and Vayudoot flights until 1981.
The airport was handed over to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in 1968 and subsequently to the NCC in 1981.
Now, with the decision to revive it, Reddy called it a historic moment for Warangal’s aviation future. He also suggested that the airport be named after a prominent Telangana figure such as Kaloji Narayana Rao, PV Narasimha Rao, or Rudrama Devi, rather than someone from Delhi.
Efforts to revive the Mamnoor Airport have gained momentum in recent years. On 31 July 2023, the Telangana cabinet approved a proposal to develop the airport, including acquiring an additional 253 acres to extend the runway and construct a terminal capable of handling larger aircraft, such as the Boeing 747.
In November 2024, the state government sanctioned ₹205 crore for land acquisition to facilitate the project.
Currently, of the two runways, one is used for NCC cadet training, while the other has fallen into disrepair.
While approving the airport’s revival, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that Warangal has immense potential to become a major regional hub.
“We are committed to ensuring this project progresses swiftly, bringing new opportunities for trade, tourism, and local employment,” he affirmed.
On 5 November 2024, Revanth Reddy reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the airport’s development under the UDAN scheme, in collaboration with the Airports Authority of India.
The state has already initiated land acquisition, allocating ₹205 crore for 230.3 acres, ensuring that the airport will be capable of handling wide-bodied aircraft.
Responding to the state’s request, Naidu secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from GMR Hyderabad Airport, waiving the 150-km exclusivity restriction under Clause 5.2 of the concession agreement. However, this NOC applies exclusively to Mamnoor Airport and will not affect future projects within the exclusivity zone.
Following this approval, the AAI has initiated infrastructure planning, with work set to proceed upon obtaining the necessary regulatory clearances.
The operationalisation of the Warangal airport is expected to be a game-changer for Telangana, fostering regional development, tourism, and trade opportunities.
“This airport is more than just infrastructure; it is a gateway to growth and prosperity for Warangal and beyond,” Naidu stated.
Originally built to support the paper industry in Khagaznagar and the Azam Jahi Mills in Warangal — both established by Mir Osman Ali Khan — the airport and the mills went south over the years.
However, with the government’s renewed focus, Warangal is on the path to reclaiming its historic significance.
Mamnoor Airport was once among the largest airports in undivided India. Spanning 1,875 acres with a 6.6-kilometer runway, the airport served as a strategic hangar for government aircraft when the Delhi Airport was at risk.
As the Union government develops the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park — India’s largest, covering approximately 1,190 acres — in Warangal, the revived airport is expected to significantly benefit the textile industry.
This integrated facility aims to support the entire textile value chain, from spinning and weaving to garment manufacturing. The project is expected to attract investments exceeding ₹9,000 crore and generate substantial employment in the region.
The government is also striving to transform Warangal into a modern urban center, with the Warangal Master Plan 2050 laying the foundation for key infrastructural developments.
These include the construction of Outer and Inner Ring Roads, an upgraded airport, and an underground drainage system.
Under the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), the central government is focused on promoting heritage-sensitive infrastructure. This initiative aims to preserve Warangal’s rich cultural legacy while enhancing urban infrastructure to boost tourism and improve local quality of life.
Another major development in the pipeline is the Warangal Metro project, which aims to enhance urban mobility. The proposed 15-kilometer metro corridor will connect key areas, reducing traffic congestion and providing a modern public transport solution.
The Sirpur Paper Mills in Khagaznagar, located in the nearby Komram Bheem-Asifabad district, is also poised to benefit from the airport’s revival. Originally established in 1938 by the Nizam of Hyderabad, the mill commenced production in 1942 and remains one of India’s oldest paper mills. JK Paper Ltd acquired it in August 2018.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
