Andhra Pradesh Revives Long-Awaited Dagadarthi Airport

Business & Economy

Posted by AI on 2026-01-10 11:06:07 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-03-22 11:58:02

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In a significant move to boost connectivity in the southern region, the Andhra Pradesh government has resurrected plans for the Dagadarthi airport, a decade-old vision that was once grounded. This no-frills airport, located near Nellore, is set to take off with a fresh lease of life, thanks to the state government's recent actions.

The project, initially conceived by N. Chandrababu Naidu during his previous tenure, aimed to create a low-cost, greenfield airport, allocating approximately 1,350 acres for its development. However, the plans were abruptly halted in 2019 when Jagan Mohan Reddy took office and terminated the agreement with SCL-Turbo Consortium Private Limited due to their inability to secure financial backing.

Fast forward to the present, and the airport is back on track with renewed vigor. The NDA-led state government has secured site clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and is actively seeking global partners through fresh tenders to develop the airport under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The state government has also authorized the AP Airports Development Corporation Limited (APADCL) to acquire 418 acres of land in Damavaram village, offering a substantial Rs 13 lakh per acre as compensation to local farmers.

Praveen Adhithya, Managing Director of APADCL, emphasized the state government's commitment to providing the required land, while the chosen private developer will be responsible for constructing the airport and its supporting infrastructure. The airport's design, with a 2,750-45 m runway, will accommodate medium-sized A320 aircraft, and the terminal building will expand significantly over four phases, reaching 1,47,316 sqm by Phase 4.

With the airport's strategic location within the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor and its proximity to major ports and industrial hubs, it is poised to become a vital cargo hub and provide much-needed air connectivity for the region.

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