Bengaluru's Second International Airport May Rise Here; But 42 MLAs Pitch Sira As Alternative

In a major step towards addressing Bengaluru's growing air traffic needs, the Karnataka government has shortlisted three potential locations for a second international airport to complement the existing Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). On Tuesday, a high-level team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) conducted inspections of two sites located along Kanakapura Road, and a third inspection is scheduled on the Nelamangala-Kunigal stretch on Wednesday.

The AAI team-comprising General Manager Vikram Singh, Joint General Manager K. Srinivasa Rao, Assistant General Manager Manuj Bharadwaj, and senior officials Sachidanand, Santoshkumar Bharti, and Aman Chipa-met with Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil following the inspection. Patil briefed them on the growing civic and industrial demands of Bengaluru, underlining the need for a second airport. He also urged the team to carry out the site evaluation process in a transparent and unbiased manner.

Nelamangala-Kunigal Road to Be Inspected Next

The AAI team is scheduled to inspect a third proposed site along the Nelamangala-Kunigal road on Wednesday. The final decision on the airport's location will be made after considering the authority's feedback and technical assessments.

The AAI delegation comprised General Manager Vikram Singh, Joint General Manager K. Srinivasa Rao, Assistant General Manager Manuj Bharadwaj, and officials from the head office-Sachidanand, Santoshkumar Bharti, and Aman Chipa.

Representing the state government were Infrastructure Department Secretary N. Manjula, Additional Secretary Hepsiba Rani, Karnataka Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation Managing Director Khushboo Goyal, and the Minister's Technical Advisor Arvind Galgali.

Political Pitch for Sira Gains Momentum

While the government's shortlisted sites are under review, a political campaign is simultaneously brewing for an alternative location-Sira in Tumakuru district, approximately 120 km from Bengaluru.

According to a report by Deccan Herald, around 42 MLAs across party lines have signed a petition urging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to consider Sira as the ideal site for Bengaluru's second international airport. The movement is being spearheaded by senior Congress leader and Sira MLA T B Jayachandra, who is openly challenging his own government's chosen sites.

Jayachandra argues that Bengaluru's population is projected to exceed 3 crore by 2050 and that the city will likely expand up to Sira. "Sira is close to HAL's helicopter factory and DRDO's Challakere facility in Chitradurga," he said, emphasizing its strategic advantages. He also claimed that Sira has better water availability, citing sources like the Hemavathi and Bhadra rivers, and the Yettinahole project.

Importantly, Jayachandra noted that current regulations prevent the establishment of another airport within a 150-km radius of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) until 2034. "The 150-km radius ends exactly at Sira," he stated, adding that 6,000 acres of land is readily available for development there.

Government Unconvinced by Sira Proposal

However, Infrastructure Minister M B Patil rejected the idea outright, insisting that the goal is to develop a second international airport for Bengaluru, not a district airport for Tumakuru. "If (Home Minister) G Parameshwara and I want to fly to Delhi, would we travel all the way to Sira?" he asked, highlighting concerns about the site's practicality for Bengaluru residents.

Patil added that any investment-whether by BIAL, the Ambanis, or the Tatas-would require logistical feasibility. "If we give them land in Sira, will they even set up an international airport there?" he asked, calling for "common sense" in the selection process.

Why Bengaluru Needs a Second Airport

Passenger traffic at Kempegowda International Airport has surged in recent years and is projected to grow further, potentially overwhelming the facility's current capacity. A second airport is being proposed as a long-term solution to ease pressure and ensure seamless air connectivity in the future.

However, due to an existing agreement prohibiting the construction of a new airport within a 200 km radius of KIA until 2034, the second airport won't be operational immediately. The second airport, therefore, is a future-forward project with an estimated timeline of 8-10 years for completion, including site surveys and regulatory clearances.