The Airports Authority of India (AAI) seems to be positive about feasibility of an airport in Adilabad as it has found all the relevant conditions and parameters such as temperatures and rainfall satisfactory. The only hitch, according to sources, is the high probability of the Indian Air Force (IAF) denying use of the old aerodrome, which is under its control, for the purpose.
“The AAI has sought coordinates of lands surrounding the aerodrome, located on the outskirts of Adilabad town, to assess feasibility of establishing the facility in those lands in such an eventuality,” revealed Adilabad R&B Superintending Engineer Md. Nazeer Ahmed. This nearly 1,600 acres of land stretch in Khanapur, Anukunta, Kachkanti and Thantoli villages was identified in 2014 for the purpose of acquisition for setting up a full fledged Air Force Station (AFS).
An AAI team had inspected the existing 369 acres of the World War II aerodrome as part of its feasibility survey besides identifying about 50 acres of adjoining land for acquisition in case they would have to extend the length of the runway. The AAI has apparently thought it proper to also assess the feasibility in the lands in question and has collected coordinates so as to keep alive the prospect of setting up of an airport.
Sources pointed out that the AAI has rated the chances of setting up airport in Adilabad much higher when compared to Basantnagar in Peddapalli district and Jakranpalli in Nizamabad district. Besides other constraints, there is no logic in establishing an airport at a distance of 150 km from the State’s capital, Hyderabad, sources added.
Assessment would be done with regard to acquisition of about 450 acres of land from the extent that was identified for the proposed AFS. This would, however, leave, the Defence project suffering due to shortage of land.
Kokkula Pochanna of Kachkanti village, who is in favour of establishing the proposed AFS, opined that the State government can assess possibility of accommodating the civilian aircraft facility within the ambit of the AFS. “Proposal for partial acquisition of land will leave farmers owning the remaining lands in a quandary as they have been waiting for the development since the last four years,” he pointed out.
