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After sanctioning funds to revive Mamnoor airport in Warangal, the state govt has decided to focus on building another airport at Kothagudem in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district. It has identified about 950 acres in the district and recently urged the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to conduct a pre-feasibility study for the airport.
Official sources said the industries department has submitted all details such as location and 10 years of weather data to the Centre for the study. But as the proposed site partly includes forest land, it would also require a clearance from the ministry of environment and forest.
The state govt has proposed six airports in the state, including Warangal and Kothagudem, and has been asking the Centre to consider greenfield airports. While the Warangal airport has been put on the fast track, the govt is now giving top priority to Kothagudem airport too.
Earlier, the govt had proposed an airport between Gudipadu and Bangarlujala villages in Palwancha mandal in the district, but the AAI said the land was not suitable. Later, the district administration identified land in Kothagudem mandal, Ramavaram, Sujathanagar, and Chunchupally villages. Once the govt approves the site, the acquisition process will begin, officials said.
“An airport at Kothagudem is required as it is about 270 km from Hyderabad, and the district has Singareni offices and industries such as the Manuguru heavy water plant and power generation plant. There will be better connectivity and people can reach the district within an hour from Hyderabad.
Secondly, it will also help pilgrims visiting Bhadrachalam Ramchandra Swamy temple. Kothagudem district is close to the Chhattisgarh border and the Centre is keen on the airport from a security point of view,” a senior official said. Officials said rail connectivity is also not available to many parts of erstwhile Khammam district and people are forced to depend on bus.
“CM Revanth Reddy has already spoken with Union civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu, and the Centre is also willing to take up the airport project after completing the feasibility study,” a senior official of the chief minister’s office said.
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