Central team in city between April 7 and 9 to evaluate sites for proposed second airport

Bengaluru: Three locations have been identified for the second international greenfield airport in Bengaluru.

A multidisciplinary team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will visit the state between April 7 and 9 for a feasibility study of these sites.

It has been reported that the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) has already paid a fee of ₹1.21 crore to the authority, according to Infrastructure Development Minister M.B. Patil, who spoke to the media on Saturday from his residence in Sadashivanagar.

He mentioned that two locations on the Kanakapura Road and one on the Nelamangala-Kunigal Road have been identified for the project.

“We had written to the Airports Authority on the 5 March, 2025, requesting them to inspect the final identified sites for the proposed airport. As per their instructions, the team will visit them. We have already prepared documents such as the revenue map of these sites, 10 years’ worth of weather reports, detailed images of the sites’ geographic features, maps from the Survey of India, and operational details of the proposed airport,” he explained.

Currently, the existing airport in Bengaluru is under immense pressure. On the other hand, the condition that there should not be another airport within a 150-km radius by 2033 will soon expire.

Keeping this in mind, work on the second airport is being expedited, and if things go as planned, it could be ready for use by 2033, Patil stated.

“Some are insisting on constructing the proposed airport near Shira in Tumkur, but this is not feasible. If an airport is built in Shira, it will be just like the district-level airports in Shivamogga and Vijayapura. To serve the people of Bengaluru, the airport must be located near the city. Only then will investors be interested in constructing the airport. Without this, the project will not be feasible,” he responded to a query.

Steel factory in Koppal

In Koppal, Baldota Group is planning to invest ₹54,000 crore to set up a large-scale steel manufacturing plant, which is expected to cause pollution. A protest is being led by the head of Gavimath Swamiji against this development.

“An independent study by an organization like IISC is being conducted on the pollution issue, and further action will be taken based on the report. As a minister, I understand both the necessity of industrial growth and the public’s concerns. There is no political agenda in this matter,” Patil assured.