250-Metre Sky Deck Project: Will Hemmigepura Location Affect Bengaluru’s Second Airport Plans?

Sky Deck Project: Proposed 250-Metre Tower to be Built in Hemmigepura

The proposed 250-metre sky deck by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is now likely to be built on a land parcel in Hemmigepura, southwest of Bengaluru, along the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Road.

Initially, the sky deck was planned for the Central Business District (CBD), but the Defence Ministry denied permission due to the location's proximity to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited airport.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with Bengaluru ministers, Congress MLAs, and senior officials, chaired a meeting to discuss the sky deck project. An in-principle approval was granted, and it was decided that the sky deck would be built outside the CBD, according to government sources.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had shortlisted three areas based on feasibility studies: the Bangalore University campus in Jnanabharathi, Kommaghatta, and Hemmigepura. The BBMP dropped the Jnanabharathi campus to preserve the tranquillity of the university environment and Kommaghatta due to accessibility issues.

A consensus was reached to use the 25-acre land in Hemmigepura, currently under NICE's custody. Located in Banashankari sixth stage, the site offers a view of the Turahalli forest and is approximately five kilometres from the Thalaghattapura Metro station.

However, moving the project to the southwest region has raised concerns about the location of Bengaluru's second airport. The 250-metre sky deck could interfere with airfield height restrictions, making it unlikely for the second airport to be situated in the southern or southwestern parts of the city.

Recently, Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil stated in the Assembly that the government has identified "seven to eight" potential sites for the second airport in the southern, western, and northern parts, within 50-60 km from the city.

Proposed by Shivakumar, the sky deck aims to attract tourists with amenities like food courts and play arenas, positioning the structure as a major tourist attraction.