Metro India News | Hyderabad 

In a significant development for Telangana's aviation infrastructure, the State Government has formally handed over 253 acres of additional land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the revival and development of the Mamnoor Airport in Warangal. The land documents were presented to Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, along with Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, D. Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, and Konda Surekha at a special programme held at Begumpet Airport.

Mamnoor Airport holds significant historical value. Built by the Nizam in 1930, it served as the largest pre-independence airport in South India before being handed over to the AAI in 1950 and subsequently closing operations in 1981. While a MoU for its development was signed in 2007, efforts were only renewed and expedited in 2024.

To facilitate the revival, the Telangana government sanctioned Rs 295 Crores for land acquisition. The total land required for the airport under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) is approximately 949 acres; with 696 acres already in AAI's possession, the state acquired the remaining 253 acres from 330 pattadars in Nakkalapalli and Gadepalli villages. Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka stated that despite being neglected for the last decade, the current government completed the acquisition in less than a year to realize this dream.

Union Minister Rammohan Naidu announced that the AAI will develop the airport with an investment of Rs 850 Crores, including the construction of a new terminal building. He assured that the project would be completed within 2 to 2.5 years. Emphasizing a "development over politics" approach, the Union Minister stated he is as committed to Telangana's progress as he is to Andhra Pradesh. He also highlighted that under Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a Vikasit Bharat, the goal is to expand India's airport network to 300.

State Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Forest Minister Konda Surekha expressed hope that the new airport would spur economic growth in Warangal. The Ministers also urged the Centre to expedite approvals for proposed airports in Kothagudem and Adilabad, for which land acquisition is underway.