Call to Name Upcoming Warangal Airport After Rani Rudrama Gains Support

A growing demand has emerged to name the upcoming airport in Warangal after 13th-century Kakatiya queen Rani Rudrama. If accepted, the proposal would make Telangana's iconic ruler only the third woman in India to have an operational airport named after her.

The push has highlighted the limited representation of women across India's public landmarks. Out of the 165 operational airports across the country, only two currently bear the names of female figures.

At present, the only existing facilities named after women are Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and Indore's Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport. Indira Gandhi was India's first and only woman Prime Minister, while Ahilyabai Holkar was an 18th-century Maratha queen who ruled Malwa for nearly three decades.

Ahilyabai Holkar is remembered for visionary administration, welfare, and civic development. Her legacy includes supporting the construction and restoration of wells, ghats, temples, and other public amenities across several major pilgrimage centres.

Rani Rudrama holds a similarly distinguished place in the history of Telangana. The Kakatiya queen ruled her kingdom from Orugallu, known today as Warangal, after succeeding her father, Ganapatideva.

Supporters of the naming proposal note that approving the title would place the Telangana warrior queen alongside two of the country's most prominent historical women while advancing female representation across national infrastructure.