Bengaluru's Second Airport Moves Closer To Reality As AAI Set To Submit Site Report Soon

The plan for a second international airport in Bengaluru is gaining traction, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) expected to submit its site assessment report to the State government soon, The Hindu reported.

Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil on Thursday (23 October) said the report would be presented to the State Cabinet once submitted.

In April, the AAI team inspected three potential sites—two along Kanakapura Road and one on the Nelamangala–Kunigal Road.

"There is a possibility that the AAI team may recommend both the sites it inspected. However, the airport construction companies would also evaluate the financial feasibility of the proposed locations. It’s not that they will build the airport wherever the government allots land," Patil was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

The Minister noted that the State government initiated the process with full awareness of a clause that prohibits setting up another international airport within a 150 km radius of Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) until 2033.

"If we begin the groundwork now, the second international airport will be ready by then. A project of this scale typically takes a minimum of five to six years to complete," he added.

Due to an agreement between Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, no new airport can operate within 150 km of KIA before May 2033 — the 25th anniversary of Bengaluru airport's opening.

By the end of this decade, KIA is projected to handle between 80 and 90 million passengers annually and is expected to reach capacity by the early 2030s.

The minister noted that the State government intends to consult with companies involved in developing dual-airport systems in other major cities.

"At present, only two cities—New Delhi (Noida) and Mumbai (Navi Mumbai)—have two international airports. We will consult the companies involved in developing those airports,” he said.

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