Bengaluru’s second international airport: Kunigal emerging as front-runner | Report

Karnataka government considers Kunigal for Bengaluru's second international airport amid rising air travel demand.

Published on: Oct 18, 2024, 16:02:01 IST

By Yamini C S

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As Bengaluru’s air travel demand continues to soar, the Karnataka government is moving closer to finalizing a location for the city’s second international airport. Kunigal, a town situated along National Highway 75, has emerged as the top contender, with the area between Dabaspet and Kunigal being considered for the new airport after a comprehensive review, a report said.

Bengaluru, being India's third-largest city, has its existing Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) operating at full capacity. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Home Minister G Parameshwara spoke on the matter and said, “The Tumkuru area, including Kunigal, is under consideration. The plan is to locate the new airport near Dabaspet, close to Tumkuru, though nothing is confirmed yet. Tumkuru is developing into Asia's biggest industrial hub, spreading across 20,000 acres in phases. Over 150 industries have already been established, and a Japanese township is also in the works. Most notably, HAL's helicopter factory and production have begun near Mettur. If this location is chosen, considering all these developments, it would be highly beneficial,” as quoted in the report.

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''After thorough evaluation, the area between Dabaspet and Kunigal along National Highway 75 has been identified as the most suitable site for the new airport. However, the final decision will depend on technical feasibility," Parameshwara added.

Bengaluru, being India's third-largest city, has its existing Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) operating at full capacity, and with major cities like Delhi and Mumbai set to open new airports in the next year, Bengaluru must follow suit, the report stated. The second airport will ease pressure on KIA, facilitating smoother connectivity.

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However, one of the challenges in the site selection process is a rule that requires new airports to be at least 150 km away from the existing airport, a stipulation in place until 2032. This limitation restricts the pool of potential locations. Although the existing HAL Airport, which once served as Bengaluru’s primary airport, is no longer a viable option for major commercial flights, it is not considered for expansion.

Given Bengaluru’s growing need for air connectivity, the second airport is crucial to support its future growth. While Kunigal seems like a promising choice, a detailed technical assessment will ultimately determine if it is the right fit. Meanwhile, neighboring states are also looking to build airports near Bengaluru, potentially adding competition for valuable air traffic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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