As AAI Inspects Shortlisted Locations For Bengaluru’s 2nd Airport, Support Grows For Site Not On List

While the state government has zeroed in on three locations close to Bengaluru—two near Harohalli on Kanakapura Road and one in Nelamangala—a group of legislators push for an alternative site in Sira.

AAI officials held a discussion with Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil to review preliminary observations and next steps

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Top officials from Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Tuesday inspected two of the three shortlisted sites for Bengaluru’s proposed second airport, both located along Kanakapura Road on the city’s outskirts. The officials visited the third site, situated off Nelamangala-Kunigal Road, on Wednesday.

Following their visits, AAI officials held a discussion with Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil to review preliminary observations and next steps, as per a report on The News Minute.

While the state government has zeroed in on three locations close to Bengaluru—two near Harohalli on Kanakapura Road and one in Nelamangala—a growing group of legislators is pushing for an alternative site in Sira, approximately 120 km northwest of the city.

Support Grows For Sira

Senior Congress leader and Sira MLA TB Jayachandra is leading the campaign for the Sira location. He has submitted a petition signed by 34 MLAs to both Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, arguing that Sira offers better feasibility.

Tumakuru MP V Somanna, who received the petition in Delhi, said that Bukkapatna near Sira is a strong contender with about 3,500–4,000 acres of unobstructed land and connectivity to four national highways. Jayachandra emphasised that Sira’s proximity—around an hour’s drive from Bengaluru—makes it a strategic and practical choice.

"Jayachandra gave me a petition signed by about 34 legislators when he visited Delhi. We have submitted it to Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu. The state government had earlier shortlisted three sites, and AAI officials are now inspecting them to assess the pros and cons," said Somanna on Wednesday, as per PTI.

"This proposed second airport is expected to be operational by 2032, and there’s ample time for changes in location during the planning phase," he added.