The Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) in India has signed an agreement with SCL-Turbo consortium to develop a greenfield airport in Dagadarthi in the Nellore district.

The concession agreement was signed between representatives of the AP Airport Development Corporation (APADCL) and developer SCL-Turbo consortium of the Nellore International Airport (NIAL).

The government of Andhra Pradesh energy, investment and infrastructure, CRDA principal secretary Ajay Jain said that the airport will be located around 25km from Nellore town, and will be a catalyst for the socio-economic, tourism and industrial development of SPSR Nellore district and adjoining areas.

“The airport will be a catalyst for the socio-economic, tourism and industrial development of SPSR Nellore district and adjoining areas.”

Besides offering regional air connectivity, the airport will help industries to import and export products to other Indian and global cities, Jain added.

Developed on a public-private-partnership (PPP) basis, the Dagadarthi airport is expected to be a low-cost, no-frills airport.

The airport will span over an area of 1,352 acres and will be developed with an investment of INR3.68bn ($54.03m).

It is said to be the first airport project to be developed on a PPP basis in Andhra Pradesh.

Commercial operations at the Dagadarthi airport are scheduled to commence from January 2020.

The facility will be capable of handling 1.9 million passengers and 55,000 metric tonnes of cargo per annum.

In order to handle category 4E wide-body passenger, and cargo aircraft operations, the airport will feature a 3,150m long runway.

The foundation stone of the new airport is likely to be laid in either July or August this year.