Tadepalligudem Airstrip

The primary reason for closure was the end of World War II, which made the military base redundant. The Royal Air Force units were disbanded or relocated, and the airfield was handed over to the Indian government. It was not subsequently developed for civilian use due to economic reasons, including a lack of commercial demand and the proximity of the larger, operational Rajahmundry Airport.

The site of the former airstrip is now largely repurposed. A significant portion of the land, including parts of the old runways, was allocated by the Andhra Pradesh government for the permanent campus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Andhra Pradesh, which is now fully operational. Other parts of the vast airfield area are used for agriculture and other minor developments. The original triangular runway layout is still partially visible from satellite imagery but is fragmented and no longer usable for aviation.

The airstrip holds significant historical importance as a major Royal Air Force station during World War II, known as RAF Tadepalligudem. It was a key training base under the No. 225 Group RAF for the South-East Asian theatre, particularly for the Burma Campaign. It housed No. 151 Operational Training Unit (OTU), which trained fighter pilots on aircraft like the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. It also hosted No. 1572 (Heavy Glider) Conversion Unit, which used Waco CG-4A gliders. The base played a crucial role in preparing thousands of aircrews for combat operations.

Prospects for reopening the airstrip are extremely low to non-existent. While there were sporadic discussions in the past (around 2014-2016) about developing it as a no-frills airport under regional connectivity schemes like UDAN, these plans have not materialized. The establishment of the permanent campus for the National Institute of Technology (NIT) on the site presents a major, likely insurmountable, obstacle to any revival plans. The focus of regional aviation development in Andhra Pradesh is on upgrading existing airports like Rajahmundry, which adequately serves the region.