South Bengaluru likely to get city's second international airport

Bengaluru: South Bengaluru, especially Kanakapura Road, will most likely house the city's second international airport. 

A high-powered meeting held in the Vidhana Soudha on Friday extensively discussed at least six potential locations for the airport, with the consensus leaning towards Somanahalli village as it is located in the diametrically opposite direction of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) 70 km away. 

However, the state government has yet to decide the final location. 

The Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) has identified seven potential sites for the second airport, including two in South Bengaluru (Harohalli and Somanahalli) and one in the southwest (Bidadi). 

While Bidadi does not have a flat terrain, much of the land in Harohalli has already been earmarked for industrial development. Well-placed sources told DH that Somanahalli was a strong contender due to the availability of around 3,000 acres of vacant land there. 

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who was present at the meeting along with his cabinet colleagues MB Patil and Priyank Kharge, was of the view that the airport must be world-class. "We should not build a second airport just because Tamil Nadu is building one in Hosur. We must create an airport with an international standard and spread across 5,000 acres of land," he is learnt to have told the meeting. 

The pros and cons of building the second airport in Bengaluru's northwest, such as Kunigal and Dobbspet, were also discussed. The proximity to the existing airport could jeopardise their chances, although an airport in this region could drive development towards Tumakuru, the home district of Home Minister G Parameshwara. 

If the second airport is built in southern Bengaluru, the proposed 250-meter-tall skydeck — intended to be a tourist attraction — may not be constructed in Hemmigepura as it could interfere with aircraft movements. 

Once the state government identifies the land, the Ministry of Civil Aviation will form a committee to study different parameters before finalising the location. 

'Final location in a week'

Patil, the minister for infrastructure development, said the location for the second airport will be finalised after a meeting scheduled next week. He dismissed news reports that a decision has already been made. "Five sites, including Dobbspet, Nelamangala, Bidadi and Harohalli, have been identified but no final decision has been made yet. We also discussed a new location today," he said. 

He emphasised that political interests will not influence the decision and that the focus will be on public convenience and facilitating industrial growth.