Dunakonda Airport

Military Decommissioning. The airfield was constructed specifically for wartime operations during World War II. With the conclusion of the war and the victory of the Allied forces, the strategic need for the base diminished. It was subsequently abandoned as part of the large-scale post-war demobilization of military assets and personnel by the British.

The airport is currently abandoned and non-operational. The original, extensive runway is still clearly visible but is in a state of disrepair and overgrown with vegetation. Most of the wartime buildings and infrastructure have been dismantled or have fallen into ruin. The vast expanse of land is reportedly used by local villagers for informal activities such as cattle grazing, drying agricultural produce like chillies, and as an open space for learning to drive. The site remains under the ownership of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Andhra Pradesh state government.

Dunakonda Airport, historically known as RAF Donakonda, was a significant Allied airbase during World War II. Built by the British in the early 1940s, it served as a crucial staging, training, and operational base for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and elements of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater. Its primary role was to prepare bomber and transport squadrons for deployment to the front lines against Japanese forces in Burma. The base was instrumental in supporting the strategic air campaign, facilitating supply runs, and serving as a rear-echelon airfield for aircraft maintenance and crew training. After the war, control of the abandoned airfield was transferred to the Government of India.

There have been multiple, recurring proposals to redevelop and reopen Dunakonda Airport. Given its strategic location in the Prakasam district, midway between major southern cities, the Andhra Pradesh government has identified it as a potential site for a new airport to boost regional connectivity and industrial growth. Various plans have been floated since the early 2010s, including developing it into a low-cost passenger airport under the UDAN scheme, a dedicated cargo hub, a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, or as the centerpiece of a large-scale industrial and aerospace park. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has conducted preliminary surveys, and the state government has previously allocated over 2,000 acres for its development. However, despite these long-standing plans and official considerations, the project has faced significant delays and has not moved to the construction phase. Its revival remains a long-term prospect, contingent on firm government commitment, funding, and private investment.