Telangana approves ₹2,278 crore for Adilabad joint-use airfield

Updated - July 26, 2026 08:33 pm IST | HYDERABAD

The Telangana government has accorded administrative sanction of ₹2,278.14 crore for the development of a Joint User Airfield (JUA) in Adilabad. The approval clears the acquisition of 2,009.23 acres for a project to be jointly developed by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The Roads and Buildings Department issued a Government Order (G.O.) on Saturday for the project. The order supersedes an earlier proposal to acquire 700 acres for the airport.

Project Scope

The project is designed to serve both defence and civil aviation needs, with facilities including:

• Civil aviation enclave
• Cargo terminal
• Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities
• Hangars
• Future expansion provisions

Land Allocation

According to the order:

• 1,609.23 acres will be acquired for the IAF
• 400 acres will be acquired for civil aviation infrastructure

The decision follows a joint survey by the Ministry of Defence, which recommended a 9,000-foot runway for the proposed airport. The IAF already holds 369.45 acres at the site but sought an additional 1,500 acres of contiguous, encumbrance-free land for its training establishment. The State government has agreed to acquire and hand over the land free of cost.

Cost Breakdown

The project cost includes:

| Component | Amount (₹ crore) | |---|---| | Land acquisition | 1,555.11 | | Shifting 765 kV transmission towers | 310.00 | | Diversion of streams | 57.49 | | Realignment of Adilabad-Anukunta road | 35.00 | | Relocation of electrical infrastructure | 18.76 | | Shifting Mission Bhagiratha drinking water pipelines | 3.55 | | Compensation for structures | 31.00 |

Timeline

The government stated it would bear the expenditure on land acquisition and removal of utilities and other obstacles to expedite implementation. The District Collector, Adilabad, has been directed to complete land acquisition and allied works, preferably by December 31, 2026.

Minister's Remarks

Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy described the Adilabad Joint User Airfield as a strategically important project for Telangana. He noted that the administrative sanction covers not only land acquisition but also all ancillary works, including road realignment, shifting of high-tension power lines, diversion of streams, relocation of Mission Bhagiratha pipelines, and removal of electricity poles.

The Minister said the project would emerge as a strategic asset for Telangana by strengthening industrial development, cargo connectivity, tourism, logistics, and national defence, while creating thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities for the youth.

Published - July 26, 2026 08:33 pm IST