Hosur Airport News: Has Tamil Nadu Government Submitted Formal Proposal For Site Clearance?

A month after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced plans for an international airport in Hosur, it has emerged that the state government has yet to submit a formal proposal to the relevant authorities.

Last month, Stalin outlined ambitious plans for the airport, claiming it would span 2,000 acres and have the capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually. He said that the airport would be major in transforming Hosur into a major economic hub and fostering development in the surrounding Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.

However, recent reports indicate that the Union Government has not received a formal proposal from the Tamil Nadu government regarding the Hosur airport, according to a report in The Times of India.

In response to inquiries about the proposed site, land acquisition plans, distance from Hosur town, and projected expenditure, a minister suggested that such details "do not arise" due to the absence of a formal proposal.

Process of Establishing Greenfield Airports

According to guidelines for setting up greenfield airports, the process begins with the submission of a proposal to a steering committee for initial approval. This proposal is then forwarded to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) or the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for feedback. Following this, a site visit is conducted, and a detailed report is prepared for the committee's review before final clearance is granted.

Has AAI Agreed Study Feasibility Of Sites In Hosur?

Another report suggests that the Airports Authority of India has agreed to study the feasibility of sites in Hosur. Preliminary discussions have already been held with several stakeholders, including Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited, which owns an airstrip in Hosur, and Bengaluru International Airport Limited.

"Akin to AAI finalising sites for the state govt to develop a greenfield airport in Parandur to meet the growing demands of Chennai, the site for Hosur airport will be identified by the central agency," the daily quoted a source privy to the developments as saying.

It has to be noted that the Bengaluru Airport has a pact with the civil aviation ministry prohibiting the establishment of any new airport within a 150 km radius. This restriction leaves the future of the Hosur airport proposal uncertain.