Telangana secures key approvals, paving the way for long-awaited regional air connectivity
Warangal: After decades of waiting, Warangal will have an airport of its own. The Centre on Friday approved the development and operationalisation of the Mamnoor airport in Warangal district, following the efforts of the Revanth Reddy government, which secured a no-objection certificate from the Hyderabad airport operator GMR Group, clearing the obstacles for the Warangal airport.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been authorised to go ahead with the project, despite existing agreements that restrict development of any other airport within a 150-km radius of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.
The approval was formalised through a letter issued by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, which referenced a series of communications from the Telangana government and Hyderabad International Airport Limited (HIAL).
The restriction was waived as the Telangana government had secured the NoC from HIAL, facilitating the transfer of 253 acres of land for the project.
However, the HIAL stated that the NOC was issued as a one-time waiver for the development of the Mamnoor airport and should not be taken as a blanket waiver from its rights under the concession agreement.
According to Clause 5.2 of the Concession Agreement between the government of India and HIAL, no airport can be developed within a 150-km radius of the Hyderabad Airport for 25 years after its opening.
The Hyderabad airport was opened for operations on March 14, 2008. According to the original agreement, HIAL’s rights extended till 2033.
Agreeing with the HIAL’s condition, the civil aviation ministry said that the approval for Warangal's development is exclusive and not applicable to future airports within the radius of Hyderabad Airport.
The development is expected to boost regional connectivity and provide a boost to the local economy, with air travel expected to become more accessible for residents of Warangal and surrounding areas.
It is to be noted here that after the formation of the Congress government, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has initiated several steps to make the airport in Warangal a reality and held discussions with officials from the AAI to clear the roadblocks.
The state government has also sanctioned Rs 205 crores for acquiring the required 253 acres of land as proposed by the officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) through G.O Ms No. 43 in November last year.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, who is an MP from Andhra Pradesh, helped in expediting the process of removing roadblocks for the development of the Warangal airport.
