Karnataka infrastructure development minister MB Patil has instructed officials to prepare a feasibility report for a second commercial airport in the city, considering the future needs of Bengaluru. During a meeting with key department officials, Patil discussed the necessity of a new airport to support the rapidly growing metropolis. Present at the meeting were N Manjula, secretary of the infrastructure development department, BC Satish, managing director of Karnataka Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, and DP Prakash, executive director.
Why second Bengaluru airport
Patil pointed out that Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is the third-busiest airport in India, handling 3.7 crore passengers and over 4 lakh tonnes of cargo last year. Given this substantial traffic, the minister emphasized the need for a second airport to manage future growth. When KIA was established, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) agreed with the government to maintain a 150km radius exclusivity for 25 years, which will expire in 2033. With only nine years left on this agreement, planning for a second airport has become imperative.The city’s population has surpassed 10 million, and it hosts numerous global companies. KIA also serves surrounding districts and parts of Andhra Pradesh. By 2033, KIA is expected to reach its maximum passenger capacity, with freight volumes peaking by 2040.
Digi Yatra, an initiative by the Indian government, aims to create a seamless and paperless travel experience for passengers through biometric-enabled digital processing. Digital Yatra may helps reduces congestion at the Indian airports.. for this we need to include international passengers too.
In 2020, the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) urged the government to establish a new airport. They highlighted that the existing airport would reach its full capacity by 2030. A second airport would enhance competition, connectivity, and affordability, while also promoting inclusive development in the rapidly growing southern and southwestern regions of Bengaluru, particularly along the Bengaluru-Mysore highway.
Second Bengaluru airport – possible locations
To accommodate the anticipated growth of Bengaluru and enhance air travel infrastructure, the state government is actively considering a second airport. The Tumakuru-Chitradurga stretch is one of the potential locations, a TOI report said last year.
Patil mentioned that the state is in the early stages of identifying suitable locations for the new airport, drawing inspiration from cities like Mumbai and Goa, which have successfully implemented multiple airports. If allowed as a second airport in the same city, the distribution of traffic between the two airports must be clearly defined.
Patil had earlier stressed the importance of assessing air-traffic viability for airports near the proposed second airport in Bengaluru. The chosen location must offer sufficient land for a fully functional airport and allow for future expansion.
While the reopening of the old HAL airport was initially considered, concerns about limited space for growth led the government to explore alternative options. The proposals are being examined in the Tumakuru-Chitradurga stretch, though several locations are deemed unviable due to potential expansions, or traffic considerations.
