Two new greenfield airports in Andhra Pradesh have cleared a first hurdle. The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has granted site clearance for airports at Kuppam and Srikakulam. M9 News notes that other statutory permissions, financing and project approvals are still needed before construction can begin.
The two airports
- Kuppam (CM Chandrababu Naidu's constituency): Phase 1 costs ₹734 crore, including ₹198.75 crore for land and ₹146 crore for infrastructure. Both phases together cost ₹1,142.10 crore. About 1,300 of the 1,788 acres identified have already been acquired.
- Srikakulam: Phase 1 costs ₹750.52 crore, on 1,185.56 acres in the draft master plan, with completion targeted for 2030.
The nine-airport plan
The state has proposed airports at Kuppam, Srikakulam, Nagarjuna Sagar, Tuni-Annavaram, Tadepalligudem, Ongole, Anantapur, Amaravati and Dagadarthi at an estimated ₹6,418 crore. ETV Bharat reports Amaravati has not yet received site clearance.
What next
The AP Airports Development Corporation (APADCL) is preparing requests for proposals. The state has not decided whether the Airports Authority of India, the state or a private partner will build them. The government says the airports will improve connectivity for southern AP and the north coastal districts.
