Nellore (Dagadarthi) Airport

Nellore Airport was a new airport construction project for city of Nellore, situated approximately 175 kilometres north of Chennai. The Andhra Pradesh State initially identified a 2600 acre land plot near Dagadarthi as the proposed development site for the new facility. The project was abandoned by the government due to limited cooperation from locals. However, in Jul-2018 the project had resurfaced with plans of developing the airport on a 1352 acre site, with an estimated investment of INR3.7 billion (USD53.5 million). 

Feb-2022. Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation's detailed project report for the first phase of the Nellore Dagadarthi Airport development project reportedly was approved, with works to commence in Apr-2022. 1100 acres of the 1900 acres required for the project were acquired for the airport. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2024.

Jul-2021. Andhra Pradesh's Government allocated 1100 acres to Andhra Pradesh Airport Development Corporation for the Nellore Dagadarthi Airport development project.

Aug-2019. Andhra Pradesh's Government terminated its contract with Nellore International Airport Private Limited to develop Nellore Dagadarthi Airport.

Jan-2019. Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated he laid the foundation stone for the development of Nellore Dagadarthi Airport. Mr Naidu reported the airport development project will require an estimated investment of INR3.3 billion (USD46.8 million) and is expected to be completed within 14 months.

Aug-2018. Andhra Pradesh Principal Secretary of Energy, Infrastructure and Investment Department Ajay Jain reported operations are expected to commence at Nellore Airport by Jan-2020. Mr Jain said Nellore will be developed on a 1352 acre site and will require an estimated investment of INR3.7 billion (USD53.5 million).

Jul-2018. Nellore International Airport Private Limited (NIAL) reportedly plans to commence works to develop Nellore Airport in Jan-2019. The airport will have a capacity of two million passengers and 55,000 tonnes of cargo p/a.

Sep-2017. India's Andhra Pradesh State Cabinet gave approval for Messer Turbo Consortium to undertake the development of Nellore (Dagadarthi) Airport. The airport development project will take place on a 1352 acre land plot and is expected to require an investment of INR3.68 billion (USD57.69 million). 

May-2017. India’s Government removed plans to develop Dagadarthi Airport for commercial services. The government decided to close the project due to limited cooperation from locals during the land acquisition process.

Jan-2017. India's Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu proposed alternative development sites for land acquisition to the Nellore (Dagadarthi) Airport project, after citing priority on airport developments nearer to special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial hubs. 

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.

Feb-2016. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has given approval for airport development projects including Nellore Airport and Orvakal Airport. Nellore Airport and Orvakal Airport will be developed under a low cost airport model. Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh chairman Ajay Jain stated site clearances for the two airports have been approved, which will be followed by other clearances such as an environmental clearance. Nellore Airport is expected to handle 1.9 million passengers p/a by 2045, and Orvakal Airport is projected is expected to handle 81,000 passengers p/a and increase to 1.45 million passengers p/a by 2045, which was revealed by an internal study conducted by the state government. 

Jan-2016. India’s Bhogapuram International Airport Company invited requests for selection of developers for a low cost airport model at Dagadarthi and Oravakal in Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh State Government had issued a public, private, partnership scheme for the two greenfield airport development projects. Bhogapuram International Airport Company has been appointed as the nodal body to oversee the development projects.

Jan-2015. India's Andhra Pradesh Government and Nellore District are awaiting approval from the country's Ministry of Civil Aviation to commence land acquisition for the proposed new airport serving Nellore. Airports Authority of India (AAI) reportedly completed a feasibility study for a 2480 acre site at Damavaram, to the north of the city.

Dec-2014. Andhra Pradesh's Infrastructure and Investment Department wrote to Airports Authority of India (AAI) seeking development of a new airport at Krishnapatnam in Nellore district. The proposed airport is intended to support increasing industrial development in the area. AAI officials visited Dagadarthi in Nellore district and Donakonda in Prakasam district to conduct feasibility studies for proposed new airports. The Andhra Pradesh Government is also in discussions with the Telangana Government to develop an airport near Nagarjuna Sagar or Amaravati to serve destinations in both states.