The Telangana Government has accorded administrative sanction of ₹2,278.14 crore for acquiring 2,009.23 acres and shifting utilities and other infrastructure for the proposed Joint-User Airport at Adilabad. The facility will support both civilian and Indian Air Force operations.
The Telangana Government had initially sought permission to introduce civilian flights from the existing IAF airfield at Adilabad. The Indian Air Force later agreed in principle to civilian operations and proposed that the site be developed as a joint-user facility. The project remained under consideration while technical studies, land requirements and coordination between the state and Union governments were completed.
According to the government order, the Ministry of Defence submitted a report on May 26 based on a joint survey of the proposed airfield. The ministry recommended a 9,000-foot runway and additional land for developing an IAF training facility. It requested around 1,500 acres adjacent to the 369.45 acres already owned by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and asked the state government to acquire and transfer the required land to the IAF free of cost.
The airport is being planned to support Airbus A321 operations under Instrument Flight Rules, including day-and-night operations.
The District Collector of Adilabad has been directed to acquire 1,609.23 acres for the Indian Air Force and 400 acres for the Civil Aviation enclave. The civil aviation area will support Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, cargo infrastructure, aircraft hangars and future expansion requirements. The district administration has been directed to complete the land acquisition and related utility-shifting work preferably by December 31, 2026.
The approved funding also includes provisions for relocating existing infrastructure that may interfere with airport development, including high-tension transmission towers, drinking water utilities, streams, roads and electrical poles.
The joint-user facility will be developed by the Indian Air Force and the Airports Authority of India, with the Telangana Government coordinating with the Union ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation.
The Ministry of Defence will be the nodal agency for the project, and the IAF will operate the proposed training facility. The civilian terminal will be handled through the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The final division of responsibilities for airport operations and air traffic services has not yet been announced.
Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said the project would support industrial development, investment, cargo movement, tourism and defence infrastructure in North Telangana, while creating direct and indirect employment opportunities.
