MB Patil Confirms Bengaluru's Second Airport Amidst City's Growth
Patil
outlined that the new airport would require a land parcel spanning around
4,500-5,000 acres, with a high-level committee tasked to determine its optimal
location considering ecological factors and connectivity with highways, trains,
and metro lines. Currently, Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), the city's
primary airport, is set to reach its maximum capacity by 2035, necessitating
the urgency for a new facility.
The third
busiest airport in the country, KIA, handles 52 million passengers annually and
significant cargo volumes. Further expansion is limited, and the exclusivity clause
with BIAL expires in 2033, Patil explained, highlighting the need to initiate
the process promptly.
Responding
to Tamil Nadu's plans for an airport at Hosur, Patil asserted it would not
impact Karnataka's decision-making process, highlighting that Bengaluru's
growth necessitates its own strategic planning.
Patil also
discussed potential locations for the new airport, including Kanakapura Road,
Mysuru Road, Magadi, Doddaballapura, Dabaspete, and Tumakuru, citing examples
where major cities successfully operate multiple airports within close
proximity.
Furthermore,
Patil mentioned discussions with Union Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy to
bolster industrial development in Karnataka, expressing readiness to support
initiatives like semiconductor manufacturing units.
N Manjula,
Secretary of Infrastructure Development, S. Selva Kumar, Principal Secretary, Gunjan
Krishna, Commissioner of Industries, and Mahesh, CEO of KIADB were present.