TBM Staff - Mumbai In a significant development, Karnataka Industries Minister M B Patil announced that the state is moving forward with plans for a second airport in Bengaluru. The Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Limited has identified seven potential locations for the new airport.
Following a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Patil revealed that a formal proposal will be submitted to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) after discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
“The final decision will consider factors such as passenger density, connectivity, industrial growth, cargo potential, and environmental aspects like the presence of rivers, hills, and biodiversity,” stated Patil.
Earlier in July, Patil mentioned that the proposed airport would require around 4,500-5,000 acres and is designed to cater to 100 million passengers annually. This move comes in anticipation of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) at Devanahalli reaching its capacity by 2035, with the current passenger load at KIA being 52 million per year. However, due to an exclusivity clause in the agreement between the state government and Bengaluru International Airport Limited, the new airport may not become operational until 2033.
