**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 778 in Lok Sabha, concerning the establishment of greenfield airports in Telangana and Tamil Nadu. It outlines the Government of India's (GoI) Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, current applications for site clearance, and pre-feasibility studies. The response was given on December 4th, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy:**
* GoI has a GFA Policy (2008) for developing new airports.
* Developers (including State Governments) must identify a suitable site and conduct a pre-feasibility study.
* A proposal must be submitted to the Central Government for 'Site Clearance', followed by 'In-Principle' approval.
* **Tamil Nadu Airport Development:**
* 'In-Principle' approval has been given for a greenfield airport in Parandur.
* A 'Site Clearance' application for a greenfield airport in Hosur was received in November 2025 and is under consideration.
* In April 2025, a team visited two sites in Ramanathapuram District to carry out a Pre-Feasibility Study.
* **Telangana Airport Development:**
* The Government of Telangana proposed Pre-Feasibility Studies for four airports: Anthergaon, Kothagudem, Mehbubnagar, and Jakranpally.
* Pre-Feasibility Studies have been completed for three sites except Anthergaon.
* Kothagudem and Mehbubnagar were deemed not feasible, while Jakranpally is technically feasible, pending obstacle removal and NOC from the Ministry of Defence/IAF.
* No 'Site Clearance' proposal has been received under the GFA policy.
* **Impact Assessment:**
* No specific study has been undertaken to assess the impact of the absence of airports in the southern region.
* **Kanniyakumari Airport Proposal:**
* There have been no discussions regarding land identification and acquisition for the Kanniyakumari airport.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tamil Nadu Government**
* **Impact:** The Tamil Nadu Government's proposals for greenfield airports are being considered, and pre-feasibility studies are underway.
* **Action Required:** The Tamil Nadu Government should await the outcome of the Hosur site clearance application and continue to cooperate with the ongoing pre-feasibility studies in Ramanathapuram.
**Telangana Government**
* **Impact:** The Telangana Government's proposed sites for greenfield airports have undergone pre-feasibility studies, with mixed results.
* **Action Required:** The Telangana Government should address the obstacles at the Jakranpally site to obtain necessary clearances and consider alternative sites for airports in Kothagudem and Mehbubnagar. It should also submit site clearance proposals for the projects it wishes to pursue.
**Airport Developers (including State Governments)**
* **Impact:** The GFA Policy outlines the requirements for developing new greenfield airports.
* **Action Required:** Developers must adhere to the GFA Policy, including identifying suitable sites, conducting pre-feasibility studies, and submitting proposals for site clearance.
Key Entities Referenced
Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008: Policy framework for development of new airports in India.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The central government ministry responsible for aviation regulation and development.
Telangana: State where greenfield airport projects are being considered.
Tamil Nadu: State where greenfield airport projects are being considered, particularly in Kanniyakumari and Ramanathapuram.
Airports Authority of India (AAI): The entity involved in Pre-Feasibility Study in Tamil Nadu.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 778
th
(To be answered on the 4 December 2025)
ESTABLISHMENT OF GREENFIELD AIRPORTS
778. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR
SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government acknowledges that several regions in Telangana and
Tamil Nadu, particularly in Kanniyakumari district and other southern States
continue to remain without functional airports despite long-pending demands from
citizens, industries, exporters and tourism bodies and if so, the details thereof along
with the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the feasibility studies for establishing new greenfield airports in
Telangana and Tamil Nadu, particularly in Kanniyakumari district and other
identified southern districts have been completed, are pending or have been
abandoned and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and (c)
whether the Government is aware that the absence of airports in strategic southern
region hampers tourism growth, domestic and international trade, pilgrimage
connectivity, industrial logistics and emergency medical transport; (d) if so, the
details thereof along with the corrective steps being planned and if not, the reasons
therefor;
(e) whether the land identification and acquisition proposals for the
Kanniyakumari airport have been discussed with the State Government of
Tamil Nadu; and
(f) if so, the details thereof along with the timelines fixed in this regard and if not,
the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)(a): Government of India (GoI) has formulated a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy,
2008 for development of new Greenfield airports in the country. As per the policy,
if any airport developer including the State Government desires to develop an airport,
they are required to identify a suitable site and get the Prefeasibility Study conducted
and submit a proposal to the Central Government for 'Site Clearance' followed by
'In-Principle' approval.
In respect of the state of Tamil Nadu, In-Principle approval has been accorded for
development of greenfield airport at Parandur and an application for Site Clearance
for the development of greenfield airport at Hosur has been received in November,
2025. The same is currently under consideration of this Ministry
While in respect of the state of Telangana no proposal for 'Site Clearance' under GFA
Policy has been received either from state government or any other Airport
Developer.
(b): The Government of Telangana has proposed Pre-Feasibility Studies for four new
Greenfield airports at Anthergaon, Kothagudem, Mehbubnagar and Jakranpally. Pre-
Feasibility Studies have been completed for three sites, except Anthergaon. The
studies concluded that the sites at Kothagudem and Mehbubnagar are not feasible,
while the site at Jakranpally is technically feasible, subject to the removal of
manmade obstacles and obtaining an NOC from the Ministry of Defence/IAF.
Regarding Tamil Nadu, in April 2025, on the request of the State Government of
Tamil Nadu, a multi-disciplinary team of AAI and TIDCO officials visited two
proposed sites in Ramanathapuram District in November 2025 to carry out a Pre-
Feasibility Study.
(c) & (d): No specific study has been undertaken to assess such impact.
(e) & (f): No.
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