The long-awaited Dagadarthi greenfield airport project in Nellore district has received a major boost with the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet granting approval to revive and fast-track it.

Located near Dagadarthi in Kavali constituency, the airport is expected to significantly improve air connectivity and accelerate industrial and economic growth in the region. The cabinet cleared the acquisition of an additional 418.14 acres near Damavaram village through a perpetual lease at a compensation of Rs 13 lakh per acre, taking total land requirements to nearly 1,379 acres. Around 900 acres have already been secured earlier. Envisioned as a no-frills airport with an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore, the facility will handle about 0.83 million passengers annually along with cargo operations.

Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla said, “Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is personally committed to this project, which is crucial for Nellore’s progress.” With tenders floated under PPP mode and AAI reviews underway, the project is expected to be operational within a few years, opening a new chapter of development for the district.