Hosur Airport: Site Clearance Expected In 6-8 Months As Karnataka Plans Second Airport In Bengaluru

The Tamil Nadu government has formally initiated the approval process for a major international airport project in Hosur, submitting a site clearance application to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). However, the ambitious project needs at least six to eight months to get clearance from the centre, The Hindu reported.

In the latest correspondence, the Tamil Nadu government has once again written to the Defence Ministry after an initial request in June was reportedly met with an unfavourable response. The Centre had reportedly pointed out that the Hosur airspace falls within the controlled operational zone of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

A source told the English daily: "The airspace of Bengaluru airport and Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited (TAAL) already overlap with HAL airspace. The Chief Secretary has provided all the technical details to the Ministry again citing how it would be possible to do so with the Hosur airport as well, and there could be an arrangement in this regard. We have highlighted the reasons on how it could coexist. We are waiting to hear from them now," a source said.

Hosur is just 26 kms away from Bengaluru. To counter Tamil Nadu's plans, the Karnataka has planned the second airport in its capital and the hunt for the land is on.

Clearance Hurdles and an Eight-Year Wait

Securing the necessary clearances from the Centre is expected to be a drawn-out affair. Officials suggest that obtaining the initial site clearance alone could take a minimum of six to eight months, noting that the clearance for the Parandur airport took over a year. Once site clearance is secured, the state must then obtain in-principle approval, the report said.

Further complicating the timeline is a pre-existing agreement between Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and the MoCA. This covenant prohibits the establishment of any competing airport within a 150-kilometre aerial distance of Bengaluru airport. Consequently, even if all approvals are fast-tracked, the commencement of passenger operations at Hosur is effectively blocked for another eight years.

Economic Rationale for the Project

Despite the hurdles, the government is banking on the airport to serve as a catalyst for economic growth. Hosur, already a thriving centre for electronics and manufacturing, is rapidly attracting fresh investments. The new airport, with advanced passenger and cargo infrastructure, is intended to relieve congestion and dependence on the Bengaluru airport, thereby accelerating development and drawing more capital into Tamil Nadu.

The state government has proposed a land acquisition of 2,300 acres, with approximately 650 acres already under government ownership. Initial designs for the airport include one terminal and two runways, with provisions to allow for future expansion as passenger and cargo demand increase.

The proposed international facility, envisioned for the Shoolagiri taluk between Berigai and Bagalur, is planned with a capacity to handle 30 million passengers.