Hosur Airport Locations: Where Will The New Airport Be Constructed? 5 Places Under Consideration

The Tamil Nadu government is intensifying efforts to establish a greenfield international airport in Hosur, located just 40 kilometers from Bengaluru.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has evaluated five potential sites and submitted a draft prefeasibility report highlighting their pros and cons, according to a report in The Hindu. The shortlisted sites include:

• Existing Hosur Airstrip (TAAL): Currently operated by Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd.
• South of Hosur Airstrip: Located 2 km from the current TAAL site.
• Thogarai Agraharam Village: Situated 10 km south of the existing airstrip in Denkanikottai.
• Ulagam, near Shoolagiri Village: Located 27 km southeast of the Hosur airstrip.
• Dhasapalli: 16 km northeast of the Hosur airstrip.

AAI officials recently inspected the sites and reported challenges, including high-tension power lines and water bodies. The existing TAAL site and its neighboring location emerged as viable options but require clearance from the Ministry of Defence due to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) control over the airspace.

Hosur's strategic location near Bengaluru's IT hub, Electronics City, and proximity to Kempegowda International Airport (60 km) make it a strong contender for a new airport. However, Tamil Nadu faces stiff competition from Karnataka, which is fast-tracking plans for a second international airport in Bengaluru to counter Hosur's potential rise as an alternative gateway.

Further complicating Tamil Nadu's ambitions is a 2004 agreement between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL). The contract prohibits the development of any airport within a 150-kilometer radius of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) until May 2033, granting BIAL exclusive rights to domestic and international flights in this zone.

Despite these hurdles, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin remains committed to the project, which could boost Hosur's industrial growth and decongest Bengaluru's aviation traffic. However, overcoming regulatory and competitive barriers will be critical for the project's realization.