Srikakulam district will have a full-fledged airport in the near future, the Union government having included the district in the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik) scheme, under which 100 new airports would be developed between 2026 and 2036.

Speaking to The Hindu here, on Thursday (July 9, 2026) Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu said the full-fledged airport proposed in Mandasa mandal of the Uddanam region would ensure the quick development of the district. He said it would become a mini aviation hub, as many ancillary aviation industries would also be encouraged near the proposed airport.

Mr. Rammohan Naidu, who represents the Srikakulam Parliamentary constituency, said the government would provide financial assistance under the viability gap fund to the developer of the airports proposed in the UDAN scheme, for which it had allocated around ₹28,840 crore recently. He said it was not a cargo airport, as reported in a section of the media for the last couple of years. He said the full-fledged airport, with a cargo facility, would ensure viability.

The National Backward Classes Welfare Association’s State women’s wing convener Seepana Gunavati welcomed the airport proposal, saying it would benefit the entire Uddanam region and enhance the image of Srikakulam district. She asked the Minister to select barren lands for the airport, to prevent possible damage to farmlands in the region.

CPI(M) Srikakulam district secretary D. Govinda Rao said the proposed airport would be a big threat to the entire Uddanam region, a major agriculture hub growing cashew, coconut and other crops in mandals such as Mandasa, Palasa and Sompeta. He said the party would continue its agitations over the airport proposal, as it would benefit only the corporate sector and push the farm sector into crisis.