Hyderabad: Considered India’s largest airport pre-Independence, the Warangal Airport in Mamnoor, has been lying non-operational for over four decades now. Currently, the 94-year-old facility — older than the Begumpet airport — is only used for training NCC cadets.
Locals blame govt authorities for its poor upkeep and urge them to revive it at the earliest.
In fact, they rue how it is now almost impossible to imagine that the same airport once played host to numerous Presidents and Prime Ministers — including Jawaharlal Nehru— and even served as a hangar during the Indo-China war. At the time of being constructed, it was believed to be the biggest airport in South Asia.
“A previous survey at the airport revealed that two runways — each one-km-long — are suitable for landing aircraft with up to 15 seats. But they are not maintained uniformly,” said a source from the airport that was commissioned by the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, to support the paper industry in Kagaznagar and assist businesses such as the Azam Jahi Mills in Warangal, facilitating economic growth of the region. Many cargo services and Vayudoot services also used Mamnoor as their hub.
“One runway running from north to south is well-maintained as it is utilised by NCC cadets. The other one stretching between the east and west side is in poor condition, with grass growing on the surface. The runway and its surroundings are only given a temporary facelift when high-ranking officials, such as the Prime Minister or an Union minister visits,” the source added.
The anticipation around reopening of this airport has driven up land prices in the nearby areas. As against previous rates of 10,000 to 15,000 per square yard, land prices here have now touched 30,000 per square yard.
“The Mamnoor area gained prominence throughout Warangal due to the airport. We are optimistic that our region will undergo a transformation similar to Shamshabad. The anticipation surrounding the airport’s development has become a topic of discussion among community,” said a local resident, Kalakotla Bhasker.
Locals blame govt authorities for its poor upkeep and urge them to revive it at the earliest.
In fact, they rue how it is now almost impossible to imagine that the same airport once played host to numerous Presidents and Prime Ministers — including Jawaharlal Nehru— and even served as a hangar during the Indo-China war. At the time of being constructed, it was believed to be the biggest airport in South Asia.
“A previous survey at the airport revealed that two runways — each one-km-long — are suitable for landing aircraft with up to 15 seats. But they are not maintained uniformly,” said a source from the airport that was commissioned by the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, to support the paper industry in Kagaznagar and assist businesses such as the Azam Jahi Mills in Warangal, facilitating economic growth of the region. Many cargo services and Vayudoot services also used Mamnoor as their hub.
“One runway running from north to south is well-maintained as it is utilised by NCC cadets. The other one stretching between the east and west side is in poor condition, with grass growing on the surface. The runway and its surroundings are only given a temporary facelift when high-ranking officials, such as the Prime Minister or an Union minister visits,” the source added.
The anticipation around reopening of this airport has driven up land prices in the nearby areas. As against previous rates of 10,000 to 15,000 per square yard, land prices here have now touched 30,000 per square yard.
“The Mamnoor area gained prominence throughout Warangal due to the airport. We are optimistic that our region will undergo a transformation similar to Shamshabad. The anticipation surrounding the airport’s development has become a topic of discussion among community,” said a local resident, Kalakotla Bhasker.
