Minister seeks feasibility report for setting up second airport in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Infrastructure development minister MB Patil has directed officials of his department to prepare a feasibility report for a second commercial airport in the city.
He issued the directive during a preliminary meeting with officials Thursday to discuss construction of the second airport, anticipating the future needs of the rapidly growing metropolis.
N Manjula, secretary, infrastructure development department, BC Satish, managing director of Karnataka Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, and DP Prakash, executive director, were present at the meeting. Patil highlighted that Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is the third-busiest one in India after Delhi and Mumbai. In the past year, KIA handled 3.7 crore passengers and over 4 lakh tonnes of cargo. Given this substantial traffic, the minister emphasized the necessity for a second airport to accommodate future growth.
“When KIA was constructed, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) entered into an agreement with the govt to maintain a 150km radius exclusivity for 25 years, which will expire in 2033.” With only nine years remaining on this agreement, it is imperative to begin planning for a second airport, he said.
The city’s population has surpassed 10 million, and it hosts numerous global companies. Additionally, KIA serves surrounding districts and parts of Andhra Pradesh. By 2033, KIA is expected to reach its maximum passenger capacity, and freight volumes are projected to peak by 2040.