How the skydeck project might affect plans for a second airport in south Bengaluru: Report

The state government has selected a 25-acre site in Hemmigepura for constructing Bengaluru’s tallest tower to boost tourism.

Published on: Jul 19, 2024, 18:30:05 IST

By Yamini C S

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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's plan of building a 250-meter-tall skydeck in Bengaluru to establish new tourist attractions is in talks, and authorities have identified a 25-acre vacant plot in Hemmigepura, located in southwest Bengaluru, for its construction, the Deccan Herald reported.

This Skydeck project, inspired by the structure of a banyan tree, will likely be built in Bengaluru's Hemmigepura.

The decision, made during a recent meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, could mean that the proposed second airport for Bengaluru will likely not be situated in the south or southwest regions of the city. The 250-meter tall observation deck planned for the tower will impact airfield height restrictions, the report noted.

READ | After tunnels, DCM DK Shivakumar proposes 250-metre-tall Skydeck in Bengaluru | Watch video

Authorities were mulling over three locations for the construction of the skydeck project - Hemmigepura, the Jnanabharathi campus and Kommaghatta. The 25-acre site in Hemmigepura, currently managed by NICE, gained broad approval from the state Cabinet members as it offers a panoramic view of the Turahalli Forest and is conveniently located near the NICE Road, with the Thalaghattapura Metro station about five kilometres away.

The Jnanabharathi campus and Kommaghatta were rejected as the former, a 1,201-acre area, would be unsuitable for the tower because it might distract from its academic focus. The latter, where a new helipad was built for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in mid-2022, was also considered too congested with limited access.

READ | ‘Kanakapura Road, Mysuru Road…’: Karnataka minister unveils potential areas for Bengaluru's 2nd airport; Check details

The 250-meter tower could however potentially interfere with the state’s plans to develop a second airport within a 20-kilometer radius of the observation deck, which encompasses parts of south and southwest Bengaluru including Electronics City, Jigani, and Bannerghatta Road, aviation experts told the publication.

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"As Hosur falls in the south eastern part of Bengaluru and Kempegowda International Airport is situated in the north, the government can finalise the second airport only in the western part of Bengaluru, which is between Tumakuru Road and Mysuru Road," the expert said, as quoted in the report.

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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