Centre’s No To Hosur Airport a 'Big Disappointment' For South Bengaluru, Says Kiran Mazumdar

Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has expressed her disappointment over the reports of the Centre saying no to the Hosur Airport.

In a post on X, she wrote, "That's a big disappointment to south Bangalore residents. Hope this gets compensated by the proposed Kanakapura site."

According to a report published in The Hindu, the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to establish an airport in Hosur has once again failed to receive clearance from the Ministry of Defence. The defence ministry's approval is crucial for the project, as the airspace in and around Hosur falls under the control of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Explaining the latest development, a source told The Hindu that the Ministry had conveyed its decision through a letter last week, stating that HAL requires the airspace and therefore cannot permit a civilian airport. "The Ministry communicated in a letter last week that HAL needed the airspace and denied the request. Now, the State government will begin evaluating it options on the further course of action and what needs to be done," the source said.

Another official expressed dissatisfaction over the process, pointing out that the rejection came without any detailed engagement between the two sides. "It is disappointing that the request has been denied even without a discussion. If a meeting was held between the Tamil Nadu Government and Ministry of Defence, the government could have had a chance to explain," the source added.

Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has recently clarified that the much-debated 150-kilometre aerial distance norm is not intended to permanently obstruct the development of new airports near existing ones. Instead, he said, it serves as a temporary guideline to ensure the smooth growth and operational stability of an airport. Once an airport begins nearing capacity, the restriction no longer holds significance.

Speaking after a validation flight at Bhogapuram airport near Visakhapatnam, the minister emphasised that the Centre is now encouraging states to plan additional airports in rapidly expanding urban areas. "When it comes to the 150 km radius policy, it is a policy that guides the initiation of airport development. Once capacity is saturated, the clause no longer applies. There is an opportunity for the State to cater to a second airport," he said.

For the Hosur project, the Tamil Nadu government had shortlisted two primary locations from an initial list of five. One of these sites lies just 1.5 kilometres from the private airstrip operated by Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited (TAAL) at Belagondapalli, while the other is situated near Ulagam, east of Hosur and north of Shoolagiri. Both locations are within a 20-kilometre radius.

Apart from defence clearances, the proposal also faces a hurdle due to an existing agreement between Bangalore International Airport Limited and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which restricts the construction of any new airport within a 150-kilometre aerial distance from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

In June last year, the Tamil Nadu government had formally sought airspace relaxation to move ahead with the Hosur airport, but the request was rejected. This was followed by a detailed submission in November by the state's Chief Secretary, including specific coordinates, arguing that the airport could be developed without affecting HAL's operations.

At the same time, the Karnataka government has moved to counter the Hosur airport proposal by advancing plans for a second airport in Bengaluru. A feasibility study is currently underway, which will be critical in deciding the final location. Of the three shortlisted sites, two are along Kanakapura Road, while the third is near Tumakuru Road.