Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a decisive move to expand Andhra Pradesh’s aviation footprint and reinforce its industrial logistics backbone, the State government is planning to develop the Dagadarthi Greenfield Airport in Nellore district. With this clearance, Dagadarthi is set to become the state’s eighth airport, underlining the government’s strategy to align air connectivity with ports, highways, and industrial clusters to drive long-term economic growth.

The proposed airport’s strategic location is central to its significance. Dagadarthi lies in close proximity to major National Highway corridors and two critical maritime gateways, Krishnapatnam Port and Ramayapatnam Port, as well as emerging industrial nodes such as KRIS City and IFFCO Special Economic Zones. This convergence of air, road, and sea infrastructure positions the project as a key enabler for manufacturing, exports, agri-logistics, and services-led expansion across southern Andhra Pradesh.

The project has already secured in-principle clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, marking an important regulatory milestone. Following this, the state has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to attract private partners for the development, operation, and maintenance of the airport under a long-term concession framework, signaling a public–private partnership approach aimed at accelerating execution while ensuring operational efficiency.

According to the approved master plan, the Dagadarthi Greenfield Airport will be developed in phases across 1,332.80 acres. Phase I is designed to handle 1.4 million passengers per annum, with provisions to scale capacity up to 15 million passengers annually in the long term.