Bengaluru To Get Second Airport, Feasibility Report To Be In Works

The Karnataka government has initiated the search for land to develop a second airport in Bengaluru.

State Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) Minister M B Patil chaired a meeting on 20 June to discuss the project, emphasising the need to address the future demands of the rapidly growing metropolis.

Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport, 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 the meeting held at Vidhana Soudha, Minister Patil directed officials to submit a feasibility report for the proposed airport. "I held a preliminary discussion with officials regarding the construction of a second airport to address the future needs of our rapidly growing global metropolis," stated Patil.

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. Patil emphasised, "By 2033, the passenger capacity will be maxed out. Even the quantum of goods will reach its capacity by 2040."

Patil also pointed out the need for a second airport to foster an industrial ecosystem beyond Bengaluru. “When the Devanahalli airport was established, the contract terms stipulated that no other airport could be constructed within a 150-kilometre radius until 2033, reports Deccan Herald.

In November 2022, Kempegowda International Airport 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 meters. The second phase will add another 4.41 lakh square metres to the terminal.

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.