AAI Flags Hurdles At All Three Proposed Sites For Bengaluru’s Second International Airport

Plans for Bengaluru’s second international airport have hit turbulence, with an Airports Authority of India (AAI) report highlighting several technical and logistical hurdles at all three proposed sites.

The Karnataka government had identified locations near Chudahalli, Somanahalli, and Nelamangala, but AAI’s inspection has stopped short of recommending any one site, citing airspace, terrain, and environmental constraints.

According to the report, all three sites pose significant challenges for aviation operations. The proposed Chudahalli site, located on the Tumakuru highway, has rocky terrain and hillocks that would require extensive levelling.

Its proximity to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), HAL Airport, and the Yelahanka Air Force Station could also restrict airspace and limit aircraft movement.

The Somanahalli site off Kanakapura Road faces similar issues, with nearly 4,350 acres of rocky land and uneven topography likely to escalate project costs.

The area also falls within the restricted airspace of KIA, HAL, and the Hosur airstrip, while potential noise impact on wildlife within Bannerghatta National Park could complicate environmental clearances.

At Nelamangala, located off the Kunigal Road, hilly terrain and overlapping controlled airspace again raise feasibility concerns. Across all three sites, AAI has recommended topographic and obstacle-limitation surveys and multiple clearances from the defence, civil aviation, and environment ministries.

Minister for Heavy, Medium Industries and Infrastructure M B Patil said the AAI report outlines the pros and cons of each site but does not recommend a location.