Infra push: Andhra Pradesh cabinet vacates Dagadarthi greenfield airport in Nellore; to become the state’s 8th airport – The Times of India

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Dagadarthi greenfield airport project in Nellore district, giving a major boost to the state’s aviation and industrial infrastructure, PTI reported citing officials.With this approval, Dagadarthi becomes Andhra Pradesh’s eighth airport, strengthening the state’s plans to build a multi-modal logistics and industrial network, they added.The proposed airport is strategically located and offers connectivity to major National Highway corridors, two major ports – Krishnapatnam and Ramayapatnam – and several industrial clusters including KRIS City and IFFCO SEZs. Officials said this location advantage positions the airport as an enabler for manufacturing, exports, agri-logistics and services-led growth in southern Andhra Pradesh.The project has already received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and a request for proposal has been issued to invite private participation for development, operation and maintenance under a long-term concession framework.The airport is planned in multiple phases and will be developed over an area of ​​1,332.80 hectares. Phase I is designed to handle 1.4 million passengers per year, with capacity that can be scaled up to 15 million passengers per year in the long term. The masterplan also includes provision for a future freight facility to support industrial production and port-led trade in the region.Officials said Dagadarthi’s Greenfield Airport is expected to support regional development by integrating air connectivity to ports, highways and industrial zones, help reduce logistics costs, attract investments and generate employment in construction, aviation and related sectors.With Cabinet approval, the state government said it remains focused on accelerating infrastructure development to support long-term economic growth and connectivity.