Hyderabad, 19 September (H.S.): Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday said a joint-use airport catering to both defence and civilian operations would be developed at Adilabad in Telangana.

Reddy said an Air Force base, training facilities, offices, townships and residential complexes would also be established as part of the project. The facility would also serve as a civilian airport, he said.

The Union Minister for Coal and Mines said discussions had been held with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy regarding the proposed airport. The Centre and the Telangana government have been working to fast-track the project.

Reddy said nodal officers from the Telangana government and the Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation would coordinate the project and work towards its implementation in mission mode. Preparation of the Detailed Project Report and master plan is also being expedited.

The proposed facility will use land already held by the Indian Air Force, with the Telangana government taking steps for additional land acquisition. The state has indicated that it is prepared to acquire an additional 1,500 acres as sought for the defence component of the project.

The proposed defence infrastructure includes facilities for trainer aircraft, aircraft parking, weather shelters, hangars, an operational complex, training and maintenance infrastructure. A civil terminal and MRO facility are also proposed as part of the project.

Reddy also said the Detailed Project Report for the proposed Mamnoor airport in Warangal was under preparation and that the layout of the airport buildings was in the final stages.

The development of the Adilabad joint-use airport is expected to strengthen civil aviation connectivity in north Telangana while also supporting defence infrastructure in the region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar