Bengaluru's Second Airport: Six Potential Locations Identified Within 50-70 Km Radius Of City

The proposed second airport in Bengaluru is expected to be located within 50 to 60 km from the city. 

On Tuesday (16 July), Karnataka's Minister for Industries and Infrastructure Development M B Patil announced in the legislative council that the government has identified six potential locations for a second international airport in Bengaluru.

The proposed sites include Tumakuru Road, Mysuru Road, Kunigal Road, Kanakapura Road, Doddaballapur, and Dobbspet.

Patil emphasised the necessity of a second airport within a 50-60 km radius of Bengaluru and mentioned that the government is currently consulting experts on these locations.

In response to a query from BJP's K S Naveen, Patil clarified that there is no proposal to build an airport beyond a 60 km radius from Bengaluru, stating, “There is no point in building a second airport 100 km away.”

“The airport will be located considering the interests of Bengaluru and Karnataka. It will take about seven to eight years to complete land acquisition and the exclusivity provided to KIAL comes to an end in 2033. The location will be chosen on the basis of merit,” he added, reports The Hindu.

Despite this restriction, the government will proceed with land acquisition once the final location is decided.

Bengaluru's population has already surpassed one crore and the city is home to numerous global companies. The current airport also serves nearby districts and some areas of Andhra Pradesh.

Previously, Patil emphasised, "By 2033, the passenger capacity will be maxed out. Even the quantum of goods will reach its capacity by 2040." He also pointed out the need for a second airport to foster an industrial ecosystem beyond Bengaluru.

He also highlighted that major cities like New York and London have multiple airports nearby and cited Mumbai, where the distance between the two airports is 36 km, as an example.

In November 2022, KIA launched its second terminal, which now handles international airlines alongside a few domestic ones. The first phase of Terminal 2, costing an estimated Rs 13,000 crore, boasts a built-up area of approximately 2.5 lakh square metres. The second phase will add another 4.41 lakh square metres to the terminal.

Bengaluru's KIA, the third busiest in India after Delhi and Mumbai, managed 37.5 million passengers and over 4 lakh tonnes of cargo last year. This highlights the necessity for a second airport to accommodate future growth.

In 2020, the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce urged the government to establish a second airport for the state capital, suggesting a location between Ramanagara and Channapatna.

As Bengaluru continues to expand and its airport infrastructure reaches capacity, the development of a second airport is seen as crucial for sustaining the city’s growth and supporting its burgeoning industrial sector.