Bengaluru's Second Airport Plan Could Clip The Wings Of DK Shivakumar's Sky Deck Vision

The state government's plan to establish a second international airport for Bengaluru may jeopardise Deputy DK Shivakumar's ambitious project of constructing a 250-metre sky deck in south Bengaluru. This panoramic platform, envisioned as India's tallest structure, aims to rival the Eiffel Tower. Shivakumar, who oversees Bengaluru's development, has earmarked 25 acres in Hemmigepura off Kanakapura Road for this project.

Officials are currently working on acquiring the land from Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) and will soon present the proposal to the cabinet for approval. However, the fate of this sky deck hinges on a crucial meeting scheduled for Thursday. CM Siddaramaiah will discuss the second airport proposal, which includes seven potential sites, before submitting it to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Potential Sites and Their Implications

The proposed locations for the new airport include Bidadi and Harohalli, both near Ramanagara. If either site is chosen, it would impact the sky deck project since structures in an air traffic zone cannot exceed 180 metres due to safety regulations. This presents a significant dilemma for Shivakumar, who is keen on developing the second airport in his home district of Ramanagara.

"The best place to locate the second airport would be near Ramanagara so that it can serve both Mysuru and Bengaluru. This would be similar to Kochi airport that caters to Kochi and Thrissur. But this could affect the proposed sky-deck location," said V Ravichandar, a civic evangelist.

Previous Considerations for Sky Deck Locations

Initially, the sky deck was planned on New Government Electric Factory (NGEF) premises near Baiyappanahalli, but AAI denied permission due to its proximity to HAL airport. Another option at Jnana Bharathi campus was also dropped by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities as it would disrupt Bengaluru University's academic environment.

The final shortlisted locations were Hemmigepura and Kommaghatta near Kengeri. However, both these sites would fall into the air traffic zone if Bidadi or Harohalli is selected for the new airport. "The sky deck proposal will be shortly sent to the cabinet suggesting Hemmigepura and Kommaghatta as preferred locations," said BS Prahlad, BBMP engineer in chief.

Airport Proposal Details

The department of infrastructure development has identified seven potential sites for the new airport: Dabaspet, Kunigal, Koratagere, Huliyurudurga in Tumakuru district, and Malavalli in Mandya district. "We will send the report to AAI after discussing it with the chief minister," said infrastructure development minister MB Patil.

The twin proposals present a complex situation for Shivakumar as he balances his vision for Bengaluru's tallest structure with strategic infrastructure development needs. The upcoming meeting will be crucial in determining whether his dream project can coexist with plans for a new international airport.