Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Andhra Pradesh Approves Compensation for 143 Kuppam Airport Farmers
The government in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh wants to build a new airport near a town called Kuppam.
To build it, the government needs land where many farmers grow crops.
Some of these farmers do not have official papers that prove they own the land, even though they have farmed it for many years.
The government decided to pay these farmers money anyway, as a special one-time help.
The payment is about 12.44 lakh rupees for every acre of land.
That is less money per acre than what other farmers received for the airport land.
The farmers agreed to give up their land after getting the money.
However, the payment does not mean the farmers officially own the land.
The airport is being built to help the region grow and connect with other cities.
The Andhra Pradesh government approved special-case compensation of about ₹22.18 crore to 143 farmers for 178.32 acres acquired for the proposed Kuppam greenfield airport.
The farmers have cultivated the land for years but lack formal records such as DKT pattas and succession documents.
Compensation was sanctioned at ₹12.44 lakh per acre, lower than the ₹16 lakh per acre paid for other airport land.
The airport, in Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's Kuppam constituency, is part of the Swarna Kuppam Vision 2029 plan and requires 1,405 acres.
The payment is a single settlement that does not recognise ownership rights, and beneficiaries cannot claim further compensation.
- Who
- The Andhra Pradesh government approved the compensation; the proposal came from Chittoor collector Sumit Kumar and the order was issued by chief secretary Sai Prasad.
- What
- Special-case compensation of about ₹22.18 crore (₹12.44 lakh per acre) for 178.32 acres cultivated by 143 farmers without formal title records, for the proposed Kuppam greenfield airport.
- When
- No specific date is given in the report; the approval came during the ongoing land acquisition process.
- Where
- Ramakuppam and Santhipuram mandals in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, covering seven villages including Ammavaripeta, Manendram and Kilakipodu.
- Why
- To compensate long-time cultivators without ownership documents and let the district administration take possession of the land for the airport, which aims to improve connectivity and support industrial and agricultural activity under the Swarna Kuppam Vision 2029 plan.
- Project
- Kuppam greenfield airport
- Total land required
- 1,405 acres in Ramakuppam and Santhipuram mandals
- Land in latest order
- 178.32 acres
- Farmers compensated
- 143
- Compensation rate
- ₹12.44 lakh per acre (about ₹22.18 crore total)
- Rate paid for other land
- ₹16 lakh per acre
- Villages covered
- Seven, including Ammavaripeta, Manendram and Kilakipodu
