The demand for a second international airport for Bengaluru, which has been ongoing for many years, is now at a decisive stage. A few days after the Tamil Nadu government’s announcement of its proposal to build an airport in Hosur on 2,000 acres of land Karnatakahas unveiled plans to construct a much larger aerodrome as well as identified six sites for this mega project. The race finally got going.
The city’s rising demand for more flights and capacity was served by Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) over the last two years during which there was a slump in air traffic growth due to pandemic. However, addition of the second runway, second terminal and upgrade of T1 would only prolong the inevitable: Need for another airport.
By 2032-33, KIA could exceed its structural capacity of 92 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) currently making it India ’s third busiest airport. This is nearly ten years away and should the preparatory work towards building another airport not commence immediately it may be too late. Also in 2033 comes end of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) exclusivity clause that does not allow any other airport within a radius of 150km around KIA.
Build greenfield international airport on 5,000-acre land somewhere within 60 km distance from Bengaluru City besides Kunigal Road among five other locations including along Mysuru road which have been suggested through State’s plan articulated recently by Industries and Infrastructure Development Minister M.B.Patil.
One previous BCIC suggestion suggests that location may very likely be on the southern side inside what they called Ramanagar-Bidadi-Channapatna triangle along Mysuru road corridor.
Ideal location?
So where should this new airport best be located? According to BCIC proposal made in 2020 then it must have been Mysuru Road; Chamber’s decision was driven by the huge projected rise in cargo originating from this region’s industrial corridor. This southern catchment includes Ramanagara, Bidadi and Channapatna.
Already existing railway network along the way and quick accessibility through the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway were mention as transport plusses for the suggested location of an airport. BCIC had earlier on suggested that a new project could come up somewhere between Bengaluru, Channapatna and Hassan. It would be a good idea because it would account for increasing passenger traffic and industrial or/and agricultural cargo.
KIA’s cargo volumes
At present, KIA is India’s largest airport with regard to perishable exports The airport processed 44% of all perishable goods originating in south India and accounted for 28% of all such items shipped across India in the year 2023-24. In line with BIAL, the airport registered a total perishable cargo tonnage of 63,188 metric tons in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24; this represents an increase of 18% over FY 2022-23. Such rapid growth may soon result into saturation at this airport due to its limited capacity. A proximity to agriculture/industry hinterland can become right solution.
Perishable exports from KIA are double those from any other Indian aerodrome according to Devesh Agarwal former president of BCIC. As he puts it, only air freight carriers carry perishables at any given time since they require them at their final destinations immediately after harvest times hence will not risk losing them by road or rail transport. In view of this an airport within Hasan-Bengaluru-Mysuru triangle makes sense since Hasan itself stands as food processing district besides catering for food processing taking place towards South West of Mysuru in Wayanad Region Kerala.
Steering group
But, the whole scheme must be prepared for before it begins because there is a great demand for a second airport. According to planning and mobility analyst Ashwin Mahesh, the first thing that should be done is to establish a body called “Second Airport Steering Group” comprising all relevant stakeholders. After this, there can be a public consultation phase whereby people will openly express themselves on the matter.
The new airport needs to be conceive of as a regional project enabling movement from and into the entire metropolis. The other common mistake is that Devanahalli’s airport was operate with no emphasis on accessibility first. “It cannot be see merely as an air travel facility. Such an airport could also become another place where housing and other infrastructure facilities develop around it in response to its presence…So you have got to think about where those might go,” explains Ashwin.
“New Airport Mobility and Housing would mean integrating these within an appropriate master plan.” This seems to suggest that one does not want another Bengaluru-style urban planning failure.
Multi-state strategy
However, neighbouring States may pose obstacles despite the fact that the demand should underpin the economic viability of such an idea. Take Tamilnadu’s Hosur airport proposal for instance. Ashwin even recalls that Andhra Pradesh will build its own private jet charter south western bordering Karnataka soon.
The answer? “You cannot conceive of this by yourself as an airport, but rather negotiate with your neighboring states and come up with a joint strategy. It could set a good example for future cooperation between these States,” he suggests.
Tamilnadu has so far held off on implementing any part of the Hosur project due to BIAL’s contractual 150km radius no-airport clause; however, a major airfield has always bee planned given that Hosur has grown into a mega industrial hub with TVS, Ashok Leyland, Titan, Ola, Ather, Tata Electronics all setting up their manufacturing facilities here over the years.
Mutually beneficial?
The Industrial zone in Krishnagiri-Hosur belt contains approximately 3,500 MSMEs which are fill with fabrication units, tool rooms, polishing shops and many more. All these feed into a range of giant firms in automobiles, electric vehicles, logistics and electronics. Cargo as well as traditional products like floriculture and horticulture which are in plenty in this area could benefit from an airport located there.
An airport close to Karnataka’s boundary will be a relief for the IT hub Electronic City; hence people will not have to depend entirely on KIA positioned far away. Additionally, Namma Metro could be extend to Hosur so that passengers can travel both ways between Karnataka and Tamilnadu states. Aviation experts argue that an early agreement between the governments of Karnataka and Tamilnadu would create a strategic balance of multiple airports that would make sense economically for the region.
Independent aviation analyst Sanjeev Dyamannavar acknowledges the need for a second airport but argues that there is no such need when it comes to Electronics City and its immediate neighborhood within Karnataka’s borders where Hosur airport is located. “This city has been growing so obviously there will also be demand,” he adds while stressing on people’s convenience.