Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj instructed the Warangal District Collector to accelerate proceedings, including surveys, negotiations, and the finalisation of compensation awards to affected landowners.
Published Oct 17, 2025 | 11:07 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 17, 2025 | 11:07 AM
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has been focusing on the development of Warangal. He asked officials to develop the aerodrome like Kochi's international airport.
Synopsis: The Telangana government approved an additional ₹90 crore allocation for acquiring land essential for the revival and development of Mamnoor Airport, located on the outskirts of Warangal. The other places where airports are planned are Adilabad, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Nalgonda.
The Telangana government approved an additional ₹90 crore allocation for acquiring land essential for the revival and development of Mamnoor Airport, located on the outskirts of Warangal.
The Transport, Roads and Buildings (Airports) department issued the Government Order (GO) No. 67 on Thursday, 16 October, to this effect, bringing the total sanctioned budget for land acquisition to ₹295 crore.
Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj issued the GO, instructing the Warangal District Collector to accelerate proceedings, including surveys, negotiations, and the finalisation of compensation awards to affected landowners.
This includes ensuring timely disbursements to minimise delays and disputes, with a focus on transparent valuation based on current market rates and government guidelines.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) serves as the nodal consultant for the project, tasked with submitting comprehensive Techno-Economic Feasibility (TEFRs) reports not just for Mamnoor but for all six planned regional airports in Telangana.
These reports assess viability, projected passenger traffic, infrastructure needs, and environmental impacts, drawing on AAI’s expertise in modern airport design and operations.
This latest tranche builds on prior approvals. In November 2024, through GO No. 43, the government released ₹205 crore to secure 280.30 acres of land — primarily agricultural and semi-urban parcels surrounding the existing dormant airstrip.
The additional ₹90 crore addresses the increased costs due to inflation, legal hurdles, and expanded acquisition needs, as proposed by the Warangal District Collector. The Finance Department’s endorsement came via U.O. No. 380/A1/EBS.X/2025 on 19 July 2025, reflecting inter-departmental coordination to prioritise infrastructure spending.
Mamnoor Airport, originally established in the 1930s as a British-era airstrip, has lain largely inactive since the 1990s, with sporadic use for pilot training and emergency operations. Its revival is in line with Telangana’s ambitious Regional Airport Development Plan, aiming to operationalise six greenfield or brownfield airports to bridge connectivity gaps.
The other places where airports are planned are Adilabad, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Nalgonda. This initiative, spearheaded since the state’s formation in 2014, seeks to decongest Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and promote tourism, agro-industry, and IT hubs in tier-2 cities.
Warangal, a historic hub known for its Kakatiya-era temples and textile industry, stands to gain immensely. The airport could handle up to one to two million passengers annually in its initial phase, spurring investments in hospitality, logistics, and manufacturing.
Projections from preliminary AAI studies estimate a direct economic multiplier effect, creating thousands of jobs and improving access to markets for local farmers and artisans.
The project is funded through state budgets supplemented by central schemes such as the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) initiative, which subsidises regional flights.
However, challenges remain, including landowner protests over compensation adequacy, environmental clearances for wildlife corridors nearby, and integration with national highways. The government aims for groundbreaking by mid-2026, with full operations targeted for 2028-29, pending swift land handover.
This development positions Telangana as a frontrunner in southern India’s aviation expansion, complementing similar efforts in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and could transform Warangal into a key growth corridor linking Hyderabad to eastern India.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
