Airport plans set to take off

Plans for Airport in Kothagudem Thrill Khammam Residents

The recent announcement by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy about plans to build an airport in Kothagudem has brought joy to the residents of the united Khammam district. Speaking at a public meeting in Warangal, the CM’s statement has raised expectations among locals, who are now eager for the government to act quickly on its promise.

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For decades, the people of Khammam district have hoped for an airport, given the region’s industrial importance and its history of Maoist influence. The area is home to several major industries, including the Singareni Head Office, Nava Bharat, KTPS, Heavy Water Plant, ITC BPL, and NMDC. Both the state and central governments recognize the need for better connectivity, making the construction of an airport a key priority.

Six years ago, then-MLA Jalagam Venkatarao had urged the Union Civil Aviation Minister to establish an airport in the Maoist-affected Bhadradri-Kothagudem district. At that time, revenue officials had surveyed land in Palvancha, Lakshmidevipalli, and Tekulapalli mandals, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) also reviewing the details. Land in areas like Bangarujala and Peta Cheruvu in Palvancha mandal was selected. However, the plans were shelved due to a lack of attention from the state government at the time.

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The airport project recently gained renewed attention when a letter was sent to the central government to revive the plans. The letter, signed by district in-charge minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, Kothagudem MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, and other district ministers, proposed Chunchupalli in Kothagudem for the airport’s location. The suggested site is in the Garibepet neighborhood, near the border of Sujathanagar and Chinchupalli mandals.

MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, alongside revenue officials, recently inspected the land in Garibepet. They identified between 600 and 900 acres of land, which includes 300 to 400 acres of government land and 300 acres of forest land. Officials plan to conduct a thorough survey of the site before the state government submits detailed proposals to the central government.

The airport project has garnered significant attention from state leaders, including CM Revanth Reddy, Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, and other ministers like Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Tummala Nageswara Rao. The CM has urged his team to discuss the Kothagudem and Warangal airport plans with the Central Civil Aviation Department.

K Rama Rao, a senior citizen from Kothagudem, expressed his excitement about the benefits the airport could bring. He noted that it would increase tourism and make it easier for devotees from across the country to visit the famous Sitarama Chandra Swamy Temple in Bhadrachalam. He also pointed out that the airport would facilitate helicopter landings during emergencies, such as the frequent Godavari floods.

He added that better infrastructure, like an airport, would help curb extremist activities in the agency areas. However, he expressed concern about temporary helicopter landing arrangements damaging sports grounds in Bhadrachalam, calling for more permanent solutions.

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