Bengaluru's Second Airport: Location, timeline, plans, preparations, cost
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Bengaluru to get new airport
In light of Bengaluru's growing demands, Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil has directed staff to draft a feasibility study for the establishment of a second commercial airport in the city. In a discussion with senior department representatives, Patil talked about the need for a new airport to serve the quickly expanding city.
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Why?
Patil said that Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), which handled over 4 lakh tonnes of cargo and 3.7 crore passengers last year, is the third busiest airport in India. The minister stressed the necessity for a second airport in order to handle future expansion in light of this significant volume of travel. Upon KIA's establishment, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) and the government reached an agreement to uphold a 25-year exclusivity of 150 km radius, which would end in 2033. This agreement only lasts for nine more years, thus it is now essential to start preparing for a second airport.
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The first demand
The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) recommended the government build a new airport in 2020. They emphasised that by 2030, the current airport will be operating at maximum capacity. A second airport will boost affordability, competitiveness, and connection. It would also encourage inclusive development in Bengaluru's rapidly expanding southern and southwest districts, especially along the Bengaluru-Mysore route.
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Where?
The state government is actively contemplating building a second airport in order to improve air transport infrastructure and meet Bengaluru's expected expansion. According to a TOI article from the last year, one of the possible locations to construct this airport is the Tumakuru-Chitradurga region. According to Patil, the state is already in the first phases of pinpointing appropriate sites for the new airport, taking cues from places like Mumbai and Goa that have effectively established several airports.
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Requirements and plans
The allocation of traffic between the two airports has to be specified if the permission is granted to operate as a second airport in the same city. Patil had previously emphasised how crucial it is to determine if airports close to Bengaluru's proposed second airport are viable for air traffic. The site must have enough acreage to support an operational airport and allow for future growth.
