The Telangana government sanctioned Rs 205 crore for acquiring over 280 acres of land to facilitate the revival of Warangal Airport located at Mamnoor, which was the largest airport of the pre-independence era. This follows the GMR Group's issuance of a "No Objection Certificate" (NoC) for the aerodrome's operations, overcoming a key regulatory hurdle.  

A government order (GO) issued on Sunday highlighted the Airports Authority of India's (AAI) readiness to develop the airport for A-320 aircraft operations under instrument flight rules (IFR). The AAI committed to bearing infrastructure, operational and maintenance costs but required 253 acres of additional land, free of cost and clear of encumbrances, from the state government.  

The AAI urged Telangana authorities to expedite the handover of the required land and secure the NoC from Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. Under a concession agreement between the GMR Group, which manages Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, no airport can be developed within a 150 km aerial radius of Hyderabad Airport until 2033. However, Mamnoor is located about 175 km away by road, enabling its development.  

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Telangana Minister for Roads and Buildings Komatireddy Venkat Reddy reportedly held multiple meetings with GMR officials to obtain the NoC. Subsequently, the state government directed the Warangal District Collector to acquire 280 acres and sanctioned Rs 205 crore for the process. 

Additionally, officials have written to the AAI to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the airport’s development. The government has also instructed the Collector to acquire the additional 253 acres needed for runway expansion and hand it over to the AAI at the earliest. 

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Warangal Airport's Historical Significance 

Warangal Airport, also known as Mamnoor Airport was established in 1930 by the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, it was once India’s largest airport, spanning 1,875 acres.  Equipped with a 2 km runway, pilot quarters and multiple terminals, the airport served various industries, including the Azam Jahi Mills. It remained operational until 1981, hosting Prime Ministers, Presidents and cargo services.  

In September 2020, the Telangana government announced plans to revive the airport, proposing the acquisition of 200 additional acres to support its redevelopment. This move aims to restore its historical significance and cater to modern aviation needs.