Kothagudem Airport

Kothagudem Airport is a proposed new airport development project that will serve Kothagudem, a main industrial centre located in India's Telangana state. The airport is expected to be constructed on a 1600 acre site in Punuguduchelaka, situated approximately 240 kilometres east of Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi Airport.

Apr-2021. Telangana's Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao requested India's Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) accelerate the approvals process for the development of six new airports in Telangana, including Kothagudem Airport.

Mar-2020. Telangana's Minister for Information Technology and Industries K T Rama Rao reported the state government is pursuing plans to develop six new airports, including Kothagudem Airport.

Mar-2017. Kothagudem Airport will begin operation under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme as soon as its construction have been completed, according to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju. The airport's development is dependent on the acquisition of about 1600 acres land between the towns of Kothagudem and Palvoncha.

Jan-2017. Telengana State Government identified 1600 acres at Punukuduchelaka village, located around 20km from Kothagudem, for the proposed greenfield airport project. 

Dec-2016. Kothagudem Airport's proposed airport site will need to obtain clearance from the Supreme Court, the Central Empowered Committee, the Central Board for Wild Life, the Union forests and environment ministry and the State Wildlife Board since the site falls in the Kinnersani wildlife sanctuary and the Punukuduchelka reserve forests. Ghaziabad Greencindia Consulting Private Limited advised, "chances are bleak" for the airport project stating: "Usually no clearances are granted in a wildlife sanctuary". 

Sep-2016. India's committee on greenfield airports headed by the Secretary, Government of India and Ministry of Civil Aviation announced four new airport project approvals. In principal approval granted to three projects in Andhra Pradesh for Bhogapuram Airport, Nellore Airport and Oravakal Airport; site clearance has been recommended for Kothagudem Airport project in Telangana State.

Jan-2016. RITES commenced a survey of land near Kothagudem for a proposed new airport. Telangana's Government approved pre-feasibility study for the project, which was undertaken in 2015.

Aug-2015. RITES Limited commenced a feasibility study for the establishment of an airport serving Kothagudem. A 1600 hectare site for the proposed airport was identified at Punukuduchelka.

Feb-2015. India's Ministry for Civil Aviation announced an inspection team will be sent to examine the site at Kothagudem in Khammam district to assess the feasibility of the new airport.

Jan-2015. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao contacted India's Minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju to express support for construction of a new airport at Kothagudem.