Warangal Airport also Mamnoor Airport (IATA: WGC, ICAO: VOWA) is located at Mamnoor, Warangal in the state of Telangana, India.[1] The largest airport at the time, remained in service until 1981. The Government of Telangana is trying to revive the airport with some instate services.[2] Around 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) of land are available for the proposed airport.
Warangal Airport | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Warangal, Telangana, India | ||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1930 | ||||||||||||||
| Closed | 1981 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 935 ft / 285 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°55′00″N 79°36′00″E / 17.91667°N 79.60000°E | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
  WGC Location of the airport in Telangana  WGC WGC (India) | |||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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History
editWarangal Airport, the largest pre-independence era airport, was built at Mamnoor in Warangal district, in 1930. It was commissioned by the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, along with one at Solapur, to benefit the businesses, at Kagaznagar for the paper industry's convenience, and to help industries like the Azam Jahi Mills at Warangal. Numerous PMs and Presidents have landed at the airport until 1981. Many cargo services and Vayudoot services have also used it as their hub.
Revival plans
editIn September 2020, the Government of Telangana planned to acquire 200 acres of additional land around the airport for its revival.[3] The state government also requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the airport to be included in the Government of India's UDAN scheme.[4] In October 2022, Government of Telangana allocated another 250-acre (1.0 km2) to Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the airport. Already, 700-acre (2.8 km2) has been allocated by the government.[5]
New push is made for the Warangal Airport to be revived via the UDAN scheme in 2022.[6] Again, in 2023 a joint inspection team was formed to expedite the survey process.[7]
On 31 July, 2023, following a new survey, the State Cabinet of Telangana approved the proposal to develop Mamnoor Airport. The proposal calls for the acquisition and subsequent allocation of the last 253 acres of required land to the Airport Authority of India for purposes of constructing a terminal building as well as extending the existing runway to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 747.[8][9]
On 17th November 2024 ,Telangana government has approved Rs 205 crore for acquiring over 280 acres of land to facilitate the development of Mamnoor Airport in Warangal. This decision follows the issuance of a “No Objection Certificate” (NoC) from GMR Group in the board meeting held on 23rd October, which manages Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). The NoC clears the path for operationalizing Mamnoor Airport. Telangana Government has written letter to AAI to start the process of Obtaining All statutory clearances/Approvals for the development of warangal airport from all the regulatory departments[10]
AAI has Informed Telangana government that they will take up development of Warangal Airport in Phase 2 for IFR Operations for A320 type aircraft Proposed Runway Length - 2.9km Total Project Cost - Rs.592 Crs (if it was started in 2021 and completed by March 2024)[11]
Infrastructure
editWarangal Airport was the largest airport in the country at the time, with 1,875-acre (7.59 km2) in land, a 2 km runway, a pilot and staff quarters, a pilot training centre and more than one terminal.[12]
Airlines and destinations
editThere is no scheduled commercial air service at this time.
The Airports Authority of India has included Warangal airport in the list of under-served and unserved airports, suitable for the regional connectivity scheme.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Nizam-era airport lies neglected". The Times of India. Hyderabad News - Times of India. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Big push to Warangal airport as Telangana govt allots another 250 acres".
- ^ Ch Sushil Rao (1 September 2020). "200 acres of land to be acquired from farmers for Mamnoor airport in Warangal | Hyderabad News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ Ch Sushil Rao (25 August 2020). "K T Rama Rao: Revive Warangal airport; KT Rama Rao to Centre | Hyderabad News". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Telangana to get 3 new airports, Centre asks state to speed up land acquisition". August 2022.
- ^ "Airstrips at Warangal, Peddapalli to developed under UDAN: Ministry of Civil Aviation".
- ^ "Joint inspection team formed to accelerate Warangal Airport Expansion". 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Telangana Cabinet approves development of Warangal's Mamnoor airport". 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Telangana government plan to develop Mamnoor airport triggers realty boom - the New Indian Express".
- ^ "Warangal airport to take off soon, Telangana government approves Rs 205 crore for land acquisition". Financialexpress. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Woodside, John. "VOWA - Warrangal, TG, IN - Airport - Great Circle Mapper". gc.kls2.com. Great Circle Airports. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ Verma, Sunny (21 September 2016). "Non-aero revenue: Airports Authority looks to 'cash in' on its spare city land". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 November 2019.