Bhadradri Airport Proposal Stalls; Warangal Airport Expansion Moves Ahead with ₹496 Crore Approval.

The proposed greenfield airport at Bhadradri Kothagudem in Telangana has hit a roadblock after the Airports Authority of India (AAI) found the identified site unsuitable due to surrounding hills and the presence of a railway line.

At the same time, the Centre has granted in-principle approval for the development of Warangal Airport at an estimated cost of ₹496.8 crore, including Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed the Rajya Sabha on July 20 that the AAI had conducted a pre-feasibility study in January 2025 for the proposed Bhadradri Kothagudem airport site covering Ramavaram, Chunchupally and Sujatha Nagar villages. The study concluded that the location was not feasible due to terrain constraints and the nearby railway line.

The minister said no fresh proposal seeking mandatory site clearance under the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008, had been received for the project. He added that the responsibility for implementing and funding greenfield airport projects rests with the airport developer.

The clarification came in response to a query from BRS MP Ravi Chandra Vaddiraju, who asked whether the Centre had received a fresh feasibility report submitted by the Telangana government in June 2026 for a new airport site spread across 667 acres in Seethampeta and Sujathanagar villages.

The Centre said that while the earlier AAI study had rejected the original location, it had not received any proposal seeking site clearance for the newly identified site under the Greenfield Airports Policy.

Meanwhile, Telangana’s proposals for airports at Adilabad and Peddapalli are under evaluation. For Adilabad, the AAI has completed a techno-economic feasibility study for developing a joint-user airfield and has communicated land requirements to the state government. For Peddapalli, the AAI submitted a pre-feasibility study for the proposed greenfield airport site in February 2026.

Warangal airport work moves ahead

The Centre said the AAI has granted in-principle approval for Warangal Airport and invited tenders for key infrastructure works, including runway, apron and taxiway pavement, along with construction of a boundary wall.

The timeline for completion and commencement of operations will depend on factors such as land acquisition, statutory approvals, financial closure and site-specific challenges.

The minister also highlighted Telangana’s progress under the regional connectivity scheme, Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), stating that 58 routes have been operationalised in the state. The latest phase of UDAN, launched on July 4, aims to connect 120 new destinations and benefit four crore passengers across the country, including those in Telangana.