Payyavula pushes for an airport in Anantapur

Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav and Anantapur MP Ambica G. Lakshminarayana speaking with Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, in New Delhi on Monday. | Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, accompanied by Anantapur MP Ambica G. Lakshminarayana, called on Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu in Delhi on Monday to urge him to consider the proposal for establishing an airport in Anantapur district. They requested that necessary steps be taken in this regard.During the meeting, they recalled that a previous survey-based report by officials of the Aviation department near Kuderu found the airport unfavourable because surrounding hills prevented aircraft from landing from both directions.Mr. Keshav requested that the authorities explore the possibility of constructing a runway that allows for ‘one-sided landing’, similar to the system implemented at the old Visakhapatnam airport, in Kuderu area. He urged them to conduct a fresh and comprehensive survey.The Finance Minister also highlighted the measures being taken by the Central government to further expand regional aviation across the country and requested that the UDAN scheme formulated by the Centre be extended to Anantapur.He also brought to the attention of Mr. Rammohan Naidu that Anantapur district was a leader in the country for horticultural crop cultivation, with the produce being transported to various markets on a large scale. Establishing an airport would create vast opportunities for horticultural cargo, enabling farmers to rapidly export their produce to domestic and international markets, thereby, securing better remunerative prices and boosting farmers’ income, Mr. Keshav said.The Minister said that the State government was working towards developing Rayalaseema as a horticulture hub and an airport in Anantapur would serve as a crucial piece of infrastructure for these initiatives. The Union Minister responded positively and directed officials to conduct a survey and submit a report within 30 days, a press release said. Published - July 27, 2026 08:31 pm IST