Kurnool Airport

Kurnool Airport, officially known as Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy Airport,^[2] (IATA: KJB, ICAO: VOKU) is a greenfield airport at Orvakal, Kurnool district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is situated on National Highway 40, about 18 km (11 mi) from Kurnool and 54 km (34 mi) from Nandyal.^[3] The airport is built in 1,008 acres (4.08 km²) at a cost of ₹153 crore (US$19 million) as a low-cost airport to improve connectivity to remote areas. The airport has begun commercial operations in March 2021.^[4]

Kurnool Airport
Airport terminal
IATA: KJB ICAO: VOKU
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Limited (APADCL)
Serves	Kurnool
Location	Orvakal
Opened	28 March 2021 (21 months ago) (2021-03-28)
Time zone	IST (+5:30)
Elevation AMSL	1,129 ft / 344.11 m
Coordinates	15°42′22″N 78°09′39″E / 15.70611°N 78.16083°E / 15.70611; 78.16083Coordinates: 15°42′22″N 78°09′39″E / 15.70611°N 78.16083°E / 15.70611; 78.16083
Website	www.apadcl.com
Map
KJB Show map of Andhra Pradesh KJB Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 10/28 6,562 2,000 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2021 - May 2022)
Passenger movement 40,336 Aircraft Movement 1,476
Source: APADCL^[1]

History

Planning

In 2008, the government of Andhra Pradesh invited for expressions of interest to develop eight minor airports in the state, including an airport at Kurnool. Each airport was expected to cost ₹50 crore (equivalent to ₹118 crore or US$15 million in 2020). The airports were to be built in 500–600 acres (2.0–2.4 km²) with a runway length of 6,000 feet (1,800 m). The construction of this airport was chosen because Kurnool had a large paper mill producing 300 tonnes of paper every day.^[5]

In July 2009, the government has scrapped the plans as no companies posted bids for the construction of the airport. The companies sought the construction to be infeasible due to low expectation of revenues. In October 2009, the government has planned to invite fresh bids for 4 airports including Kurnool airport, to be constructed in 500 acres (2.0 km²). The government has offered additional incentives including exemption from value added taxes and waiver of lease rentals for the first seven years once the airport is operational.^[6]

Later in 2013, the central government has identified Kurnool as one of the 50 locations for the development of low-cost airports in order to improve connectivity to remote areas.^[7]

Construction

The airport was originally planned to be constructed over 639 acres (2.59 km²), of which 456 acres (1.85 km²) are in Pudicherla, 115 acres (0.47 km²) in Orvakal and 67 acres (0.27 km²) in Kannamadakala.^[8] The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation had given the site clearance in February 2016.^[9] The state government approved the allocation of land in February 2017.^[8] The final construction was done in 1,008 acres (4.08 km²) at a cost of ₹153 crore (US$19 million).^[10]

The foundation stone was laid in June 2017 by the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu. After trial runs were successfully conducted at the end of 2018,^[11] he has later inaugurated the airport on 8 January 2019.^[12][13] At this time, the runway and terminal buildings were constructed, however, works related to air traffic control were not completed.^[14] Two years later, on 15 January 2021, the civil aviation authority DGCA has granted the aerodrome license to the airport for public use. Later on 27 January, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has granted security clearance.^[10]

On 25 March 2021, the airport is re-inaugurated by the current Chief Minister, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He has also named the airport as Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy Airport, commemorating the freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy who originated from Kurnool district.^[10] The government has also started discussion for a pilot training institute and an aircraft repair centre.^[12] On 28 March 2021, commercial operations has begun with a ceremonial IndiGo flight from Bangalore.^[4]

The airport has a 2,000-metre (6,600-foot) runway with four aprons for parking of aircraft. It has been categorized as '3C' and is capable of handling turboprop aircraft like ATR-72 and Bombardier Q-400.^[15]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
IndiGo	Bangalore, Chennai, Visakhapatnam^[16]

Access

The airport is located directly on National Highway 40 connecting Kurnool and Nandyal. There are no railway lines connecting the airport.

See also

• Aviation in India
• List of Airports in India

References

1. "S.I.T.C. of Night Landing Facilities at Kurnool Airport in Andhra Pradesh" (PDF). Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Limited. p. 8. (PDF) from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
2. "Kurnool airport named after freedom fighter Narasimha Reddy". The New Indian Express. from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
3. "Pre-feasibility Report" (PDF). Retrieved 4 January 2019.
4. "Kurnool airport opens, to house south India's biggest industrial park". Deccan Chronicle. 29 March 2021. from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
5. Chowdhury, Anirban (19 January 2008). "Andhra plans 8 small airports". Rediff India Abroad. from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
6. "Andhra to invite bids for 4 airports with new incentives". Mint. 2 October 2009. from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
7. Mukherjee, Sharmistha (5 July 2014). "Centre to focus on low-cost airports along tourist circuits". Business Standard. from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
8. "639 acres alienated for Greenfield Airport in Kurnool district". The Hindu. 4 February 2017. from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
9. "Centre gives nod for Nellore, Kurnool airport sites". The Times of India. 3 February 2016. from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
10. Bandari, Pavan Kumar (25 March 2021). "Andhra Pradesh: Orvakal Airport launched and named as Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy airport". The Hans India. from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
11. "Trial run successful for Kurnool airport". Business Line. 31 December 2018. from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
12. Raghavan, Sandeep (16 January 2021). "Andhra Pradesh: Kurnool airport gets aerodrome license from DGCA". The Times of India. from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
13. "Tourism boost for A.P. as Kurnool gets new airport". The Hindu. 9 January 2019. from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
14. "First flight to land at Orvakal airport on March 28". The Hindu. 21 March 2021. from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
15. "CM Jagan to inaugurate Kurnool airport on Thursday". The New Indian Express. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
16. "IndiGo flights from Kurnool to begin on March 28". The Hindu. from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.