Warangal Airport
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Warangal Airport
| image =
| image-width = 250px
| caption =
| IATA = WGC
| ICAO = VOWA
| type = Public
| owner = Airports Authority of India
| operator = Airports Authority of India
| city-served =
| location = Warangal, Telangana, India
| elevation-f = 935
| elevation-m = 285
| pushpin_map = India Telangana#India
| pushpin_label = WGC
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the airport in Telangana
| pushpin_label_position = right
| coordinates = {{coord|17|55|00|N|79|36|00|E|display=inline,title}}
| website =
| metric-elev =
| metric-rwy =
| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length-f = 6,000
| r1-length-m = 1,829
| r1-surface = N/A
| r2-number = 15/33
| r2-length-f = 6,000
| r2-length-m = 1,829
| r2-surface = N/A
| stat-year = 1930
| stat1-header =
| stat1-data =
| stat2-header =
| stat2-data =
| footnotes =
| opened ={{start date and age|1930}}
| closed = {{start date and age|1981}}
}}
Warangal Airport also Mamnoor Airport {{Airport codes|WGC|VOWA}} is located at Mamnoor, Warangal in the state of Telangana, India.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Nizam-era-airport-lies-neglected/articleshow/9402208.cms|title=Nizam-era airport lies neglected|date=2011-07-29|work=The Times of India|access-date=2019-11-07|publisher=Hyderabad News - Times of India}} 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, it is planned to be reopened by 2030.{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2022/oct/19/big-push-to-warangal-airport-as-telangana-govtallots-another-250-acres-2509676.html|title=Big push to Warangal airport as Telangana govt allots another 250 acres}} Around {{convert|1000|acre|km2|adj=on}} of land are available for the proposed airport.
History
Warangal Airport, the First and largest pre-independence era airport in India , was built at Mamnoor in Warangal district, in 1930 by British later 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 =
In September 2020, the Government of Telangana planned to acquire 200 acres of additional land around the airport for its revival.{{Cite web|author=Ch Sushil Rao|date=1 Sep 2020|title=200 acres of land to be acquired from farmers for Mamnoor airport in Warangal {{!}} Hyderabad News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/200-acres-of-land-to-be-acquired-from-farmers-for-mamnoor-airport-in-warangal/articleshow/77864491.cms|access-date=2020-11-14|website=The Times of India|language=en}} The state government also requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the airport to be included in the Government of India's UDAN scheme.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/revive-warangal-airport-ktr-to-centre/articleshow/77730690.cms|title=K T Rama Rao: Revive Warangal airport; KT Rama Rao to Centre | Hyderabad News|website=The Times of India|date=2020-08-25|author=Ch Sushil Rao|access-date=2021-02-10}}{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/telangana-to-get-3-new-airports-centre-asks-state-to-speed-up-land-acquisition-101659293348551.html | title=Telangana to get 3 new airports, Centre asks state to speed up land acquisition | date=August 2022 }}
New push is made for the Warangal International Airport to be revived via the UDAN scheme in 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2022/sep/09/airstrips-at-warangal-peddapalli-to-developed-under-udanministry-of-civil-aviation-2496271.html | title=Airstrips at Warangal, Peddapalli to developed under UDAN: Ministry of Civil Aviation }} Again, in 2023 a joint inspection team was formed to expedite the survey process.{{cite web | url=https://telanganatoday.com/joint-inspection-team-formed-to-accelerate-warangal-airport-expansion | title=Joint inspection team formed to accelerate Warangal International Airport Expansion | date=28 May 2023 }}
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.{{cite web | url=https://telanganatoday.com/telangana-cabinet-approves-development-of-warangals-mamnoor-airport | title=Telangana Cabinet approves development of Warangal's Mamnoor airport | date=31 July 2023 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/telangana/2023/Aug/16/telangana-government-plan-to-develop-mamnoor-airport-triggers-realty-boom-2605690.html | title=Telangana government plan to develop Mamnoor airport triggers realty boom | newspaper=The New Indian Express | first=U | last=Mahesh | date=16 August 2023 | accessdate=11 March 2025 }}
On 17 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 23 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 international airport from all the regulatory departments{{Cite web |date=2024-11-18 |title=Warangal airport to take off soon, Telangana government approves Rs 205 crore for land acquisition |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/airlines-aviation-warangal-airport-to-take-off-soon-telangana-government-approves-rs-205-crore-for-land-acquisition-3668058/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}
AAI has Informed Telangana government that they will take up development of Warangal International 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)[https://x.com/NTreal123/status/1760648222467399993]
On 28 February 2025 - Central government on Friday has approved the development and operationalisation of Warangal International Airport, waiving the exclusivity clause that restricted new airport developments within 150 km of Hyderabad International Airport.{{Cite web | date=2025-02-28 |title=Central Government approves Mamnoor Airport development |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/central-government-approves-mamnoor-airport-development-1864053 |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=www.deccanchronicle.com |language=en}}
Infrastructure
Warangal Airport was the largest airport in the country at the time, with {{convert|1875|acre|km2|adj=on}} in land, a 2 km runway, a pilot and staff quarters, a pilot training centre and more than one terminal.{{Cite web|url=http://gc.kls2.com/airport/VOWA|title=VOWA - Warrangal, TG, IN - Airport - Great Circle Mapper|last=Woodside|first=John|website=gc.kls2.com|publisher=Great Circle Airports|access-date=2019-11-07}}
Airlines and destinations
There 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.{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/business/business-others/non-aero-revenue-airports-authority-looks-to-cash-in-on-its-spare-city-land-3041518/|title=Non-aero revenue: Airports Authority looks to 'cash in' on its spare city land|last=Verma|first=Sunny|date=2016-09-21|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2019-11-07}}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://aai.aero/allAirports/warrangal.jsp Warangal Airport]
{{Warangal topics}}
{{Airports in India}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Airports in Telangana