Bengaluru Poised To Get Second International Airport? Minister Says Location Finalisation Soon

Currently, feasibility reports are being prepared for already identified five sites, including Dabaspet, Nelamangala, Bidadi, and Harohalli, and another site which is yet to be revealed.

Bengaluru news: Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil announced on Friday that the location for Bengaluru's second international airport will be decided after a key meeting next week. He confirmed that five potential sites have been shortlisted, but no final decision has been made yet.

Patil made the remarks following a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge, and other officials to discuss the proposed airport. He dismissed rumors that the location had already been finalized.

"Five sites, including Dabaspet, Nelamangala, Bidadi, and Harohalli, have already been identified. Today, we also discussed a new location. But no final decision has been made yet," Patil's office stated, as per a report on PTI. He also directed officials to prepare feasibility reports for each location to aid in the final decision.

The minister emphasised that political considerations will not affect the decision-making process and highlighted the importance of "public convenience and promoting industrial growth" as the primary factors in determining the airport's location.

A high-level discussion at Vidhana Soudha examined at least six possible sites with Somanahalli village emerging as a strong contender due to its location on the opposite side of the existing Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), as reported by Deccan Herald.

Additionally, Kunigal, located along National Highway 75, is gaining traction as another leading option after an extensive evaluation of the region between Dabaspet and Kunigal, reported One India.

With Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport already operating at full capacity, the establishment of a second airport has become a necessity for the rapidly growing city, which is India's third-largest metropolis.

KIA is India's third largest airport after Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.