Warangal: The Mamnoor airport, which is the largest pre-Inde-pendence era airport, built by the Nizams at Warangal in 1930, lies in a state of neglect. Initially, the airport was spread in 1,875 acres with a 6.6-km runway, a pilot and staff quarters, a pilot training centre and more than one terminal.
However, the government had taken back 1,100 acres of the airport for other activities. The airport was built to benefit the paper industry at Sirpur Kagaznagar, Azam Zahi mills and it remained in service till 1981.
At present, the airport is being used as NCC Training Centre by No. 4 (A) air squadron for gliding sorties, skeet shooting and aero-modelling since. No commercial services are being run. During former CM late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s rule, the AAI had agreed to develop the airports at Mamnoor and Kadapa simultaneously and even signed an MoU with the government.
However, the authority has thus far concentrated only on Kadapa airport. When contacted, Warangal (East) TRS MLA Konda Surekha said she does not have kno-wledge about the airport.
According to the AAI another 400 acres of land is required for the upgradation of Mamnoor airport. With the assistance of assistant director, district surveyor and land record officials of Warangal, the AAI conducted a survey to acquire patta lands for construction of a new terminal building, extension of run-way and an isolated bay at Mamnoor air field.
Former MP Siricilla Rajaiah said, “During Cong-ress rule, works relating to both Kadapa and Mamnoor airports were started simultaneously. About 190 acres was acquired from the farmers for the Mamnoor airport but the AAI wanted 400 acres. Farmers are ready to part with their lands, if given suitable compensation. But the government is not taking interest in the issue."
However, Karimnagar MP Boinapally Vinod Kumar conveyed something different. “There is no chance of upgradation of the Mamno-or airport for the next 20 years. A proposal on it would come up for consideration only after 2030.
The united AP government signed an agreement with the GMR company, which built the Shamshabad airport, that it would not develop any other airport within 120 km radius of that constructed in Hyderabad.”
