Second Airport Sites Near Bengaluru Under AAI Review: Bannerghatta Forest and HAL Airspace Pose Hurdles

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has submitted a pre-feasibility report to the Karnataka government on the proposal for Bengaluru's second international airport. The report points out several major challenges that need to be resolved before any site can be approved.

AAI studied three possible locations for the new airport - a 4,800-acre and a 5,000-acre site near Harohalli on Kanakapura Road, and a 5,200-acre site near Nelamangala on Kunigal Road. The report doesn't select or reject any location but lists the difficulties that come with each.

Main Challenges in Building the Airport

Proximity to Bannerghatta Forest Area

The report highlights that all three proposed sites are close to the Bannerghatta Hill range. Officials say this could pose a safety issue during aircraft take-off and landing, and detailed aeronautical studies will be required.

Rocky and Hilly Terrain

AAI noted that the terrain, especially near Nelamangala and Kunigal, is rocky and uneven. This would mean major land-leveling work, pushing up the construction cost significantly.

HAL's Airspace Overlap

Another challenge is that all the shortlisted sites fall under Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) airspace. A flexible airspace agreement will be needed between civil and defence aviation authorities to manage both operations safely.

Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil said the AAI report is neutral and meant only for reference. "Each location has its own pros and cons. We will conduct our own detailed technical and financial studies before taking a final call," he said.

The government also plans to consult major infrastructure and aviation experts before involving private developers.

Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport has seen rapid passenger growth, crossing its design capacity. A second airport is being considered to handle future traffic, expected to double in the next decade. However, the AAI report shows that finding suitable land within the 100-120 km radius around Bengaluru won't be easy - and the project could face environmental, financial, and airspace-related hurdles before it takes off.