Adilabad Airfield

The primary reason for its closure was obsolescence and economic non-viability. The airfield was built for a specific purpose (serving the Nizam's administration) which ceased to exist. With no commercial demand and the development of better road infrastructure, the airstrip was abandoned and never developed for modern aviation.

The airfield is currently defunct and non-operational. The original paved runway, approximately 1,000-1,100 meters in length, still exists but is in a state of disrepair and is not suitable for aviation. The government-owned land is surrounded by agricultural fields and is reportedly used by locals for learning to drive and other recreational activities.

The Adilabad Airfield was constructed in the 1940s during the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Its main purpose was to provide air connectivity for administrative and private travel to the remote Adilabad district, which was part of the princely state of Hyderabad. It primarily handled small, non-scheduled aircraft. There is no evidence that it ever hosted regular commercial passenger flights. After its original purpose vanished, it was left unused.

There are significant and ongoing prospects for reopening the airport. The Telangana state government has identified the Adilabad airstrip for development into a full-fledged domestic airport under the central government's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has conducted technical surveys and deemed the site feasible for development. The plan is to acquire approximately 350-400 acres of additional land to extend the runway to accommodate larger aircraft like the ATR-72 and to construct a modern terminal building. The revival aims to boost economic activity, support the local cement industry, and promote tourism in the region. As of early 2024, the project is in the land acquisition and planning stages, facing some procedural delays.