Bengaluru Second Airport Location: Hunt For Land Within 50-60 km Of North Bengaluru

Karnataka Infrastructure Minister M B Patil announced on Tuesday that the state government is planning for a second international airport for Bengaluru by 2035. This comes in anticipation of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in North Bengaluru reaching its peak capacity in terms of passenger and cargo traffic.

Minister Patil emphasized that the new airport should be within 50 to 60 km of KIA. He stated, "We don't have plans for an airport at Tumakuru and Chitradurga but are considering a second international airport for Bengaluru. KIA will peak at 110 million passengers and 1.10 million tonnes in cargo by 2035." This announcement was made during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council.

Highlighting the need for proactive planning, Patil noted that the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which manages KIA, has an exclusivity clause preventing another airport within 125 km until 2033.

"If we start the land acquisition process now, it will take another seven to eight years to complete," Patil pointed out. He has already met with officials and experts, including those from the consulting agency Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Limited (iDeCK), which proposed seven to eight potential locations. However, no specific location has been finalised yet.

Discussing the parameters for selecting the new airport site, the Minister said, "We are considering whether the new airport should connect with KIA in North Bengaluru or if the passenger load factor should be the primary criterion."

He stressed that the second airport should be developed based on merit to benefit Bengaluru and Karnataka in the long term. "I too have lots of pressure. People want it in Tumakuru and other places, but we want to have it in a place that can help us in the long term," Patil said. "If it is far away, it will cause us problems. The second international airport should be within a 50 to 60 km radius."

Government officials estimate that 4,500 to 5,000 acres will be needed for the second international airport.