Dagadarthi airport set to be AP’s 8th aviation hub

Nellore: In a major boost to Andhra Pradesh’s aviation and industrial infrastructure, the Dagadarthi Greenfield Airport project in Nellore district is set to become the State’s eighth airport.

With the recent Cabinet approval and issuance of a Government Order (GO) on land acquisition, Dagadarthi will emerge as another key aviation hub, reinforcing Andhra Pradesh’s vision of building a future-ready, multimodal logistics and industrial network. Strategically located, the Dagadarhi airport enjoys excellent connectivity to National Highway corridors, two major ports—Krishnapatnam and Ramayapatnam—and multiple industrial clusters, including KRIS City and IFFCO SEZs. This locational advantage positions the airport as a critical enabler for manufacturing, exports, agri-logistics, and services-led growth in southern Andhra Pradesh.

The project has already received in-principle clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), and a Request for Proposal (RFP) has been issued to invite private participation for its development, operation, and maintenance under a long-term concession framework.

Planned in multiple phases, the airport will be developed over 1,332.80 acres. Phase 1 will have the capacity to handle 1.4 million passengers per annum, scalable to 15 million passengers annually in the long term.

The master plan also includes provisions for a future cargo terminal, aligning with the region’s growing industrial output and port-led trade potential. Envisaged as more than just an aviation asset, the Dagadarthi Greenfield Airport is expected to act as a catalyst for regional transformation. By integrating air connectivity with ports, highways, and industrial zones, the project is likely to reduce logistics costs for exporters and manufacturers, attract fresh investments in manufacturing, warehousing, and services, and generate significant employment across construction, aviation, logistics, and allied sectors.