Telangana clears ₹2,278 crore for Adilabad joint-use airport, land acquisition by 2026
The Telangana government has formally approved an expenditure of ₹2,278.14 crore for the development of a Joint User Airfield (JUA) in Adilabad district. The project, to be developed jointly by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), will involve the acquisition of 2,009.23 acres of land.
The administrative sanction was issued by the Roads and Buildings Department through a Government Order (G.O.) on Saturday. The order replaces an earlier plan to acquire 700 acres for the airport.
The airfield is designed to serve both defence and civil aviation purposes. Facilities planned include a civil aviation enclave, cargo terminal, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, hangars, and space for future expansion.
According to the G.O., 1,609.23 acres will be acquired for the IAF and 400 acres 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 requested 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.
The total project cost includes ₹1,555.11 crore for land acquisition, ₹310 crore for shifting 765 kV transmission towers, ₹57.49 crore for diversion of streams, ₹35 crore for realignment of the Adilabad-Anukunta road, ₹18.76 crore for relocation of electrical infrastructure, ₹3.55 crore for shifting Mission Bhagiratha drinking water pipelines, and ₹31 crore for compensation for structures.
The government stated it would bear the expenditure on land acquisition and removal of utilities and other obstacles to expedite implementation. The District Collector of Adilabad has been directed to complete land acquisition and allied works, preferably by December 31, 2026.
Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy described the Adilabad Joint User Airfield as a strategically important project for Telangana. He said 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.
