Joint user airfield at Adilabad to be fast-tracked by Centre | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: The long-pending Adilabad airport project has moved a step closer to implementation, with the Centre deciding to fast-track development of a joint user airfield (JUA) that will serve both defence and civil aviation needs in north Telangana.Union minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday said the decision was taken at a review meeting with defence minister Rajnath Singh and civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi.One nodal officer each from the ministry of defence, ministry of civil aviation and Telangana govt will be appointed by next week to coordinate the project and implement it in mission mode. It was also decided to expedite preparation of the DPR and master plan for the proposed airfield.The project is expected to strengthen regional air connectivity in north Telangana while also adding to the country’s strategic and defence infrastructure. Reddy said defence minister Rajnath Singh had assured him that the ministry of defence was ready to develop the JUA at Adilabad and would extend full support to the project.The proposed project will use 369.45 acres of land already owned by the Indian Air Force, while the Telangana govt has decided to acquire an additional 1,500 acres for the development. The expanded facility is planned to accommodate a range of defence-related infrastructure, including trainer aircraft facilities, parking for visiting aircraft, weather shelters, aircraft hangars, an operational complex, training facilities and maintenance infrastructure.On the civil aviation side, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to develop a civil terminal and a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the site. Residential and other supporting infrastructure for air force personnel will also be developed as part of the project.