Bengaluru: Plans for Bengaluru’s proposed second airport are gathering momentum, with government agencies increasingly favouring southern parts of the city, particularly the Kanakapura Road region, for the ambitious infrastructure project.
Senior officials from the Infrastructure Development Department, Airports Authority of India and Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board have indicated that the shortlisted sites along Kanakapura Road are emerging as strong contenders due to better land availability, improved connectivity and fewer airspace restrictions.
The development comes even as the Karnataka government recently appointed Meinhardt EPCM to conduct a feasibility study for all three shortlisted locations for the city’s second airport.
Kanakapura Road sites under detailed consideration
The shortlisted sites include Chudahalli and Somanahalli along Kanakapura Road in South Bengaluru, and another location comprising villages situated between Kunigal and Nelamangala near Tumakuru Road in western Bengaluru.
Officials said the two Kanakapura Road sites are located adjacent to each other and may potentially be merged into a single large land parcel to meet airport requirements more efficiently.
According to officials, the Chudahalli and Somanahalli sites span around 4,800 acres and 5,000 acres respectively, while the Nelamangala-side location covers approximately 5,200 acres.
Authorities are reportedly exploring the possibility of combining portions of the two southern land parcels to create an ideal contiguous area of around 4,500 to 5,000 acres for airport development.
A senior official from KIADB stated that the government has greater flexibility in terms of land acquisition and planning on the Kanakapura Road side compared to the western location.
“As there is more land available on the Kanakapura side, multiple combinations can be explored to carve out the ideal land parcel required for the airport,” the official said.
DyCM reiterates preference for South Bengaluru
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has publicly stated on multiple occasions that the proposed second airport is likely to come up in South Bengaluru.
Officials from KIADB and AAI are understood to have reaffirmed the Deputy Chief Minister’s remarks, citing stronger connectivity advantages and growing passenger demand in the southern corridor of the city.
According to officials, an airport in South Bengaluru would provide easier access for rapidly expanding residential and commercial zones while also complementing future infrastructure projects in the region.
Some stakeholders have argued that a location near Nelamangala could benefit travellers from North Karnataka. However, officials involved in the planning process reportedly consider this scenario less practical from a connectivity and passenger demand perspective.
Authorities also noted that the land identified near Nelamangala contains relatively more vegetation when compared to the Kanakapura Road sites.
Feasibility study to assess all shortlisted sites
The Karnataka government has awarded a Rs 4.96 crore contract to Meinhardt EPCM for conducting a comprehensive feasibility study covering all shortlisted locations.
The consultancy firm has been tasked with evaluating technical feasibility, reviewing earlier assessments conducted by the Airports Authority of India and preparing a strategic framework for final site selection.
The study will also include traffic demand analysis and passenger forecasting for each proposed location.
Officials said the feasibility assessment would examine the Kanakapura Road sites both individually and collectively because of their overlapping geographical characteristics.
The report is expected to analyse several critical aspects, including airspace restrictions, environmental considerations, road and rail connectivity, land acquisition feasibility and long-term urban growth patterns.
Sources indicated that while the final feasibility report may take around five months, internal discussions among agencies increasingly favour the southern corridor due to logistical and infrastructure advantages.
Airport project expected to reshape regional growth
The proposed second airport is expected to become one of Karnataka’s largest infrastructure projects in the coming years and could significantly influence urban expansion patterns around Bengaluru.
Experts believe the project would accelerate development in the selected region through improved connectivity, real estate growth and commercial investment.
Officials stated that the airport is being planned keeping future passenger growth and long-term regional development requirements in mind.
While no final decision has been officially announced, the Kanakapura Road region currently appears to hold a strategic advantage in the evolving site selection process.
The state government is expected to take the final decision after reviewing the detailed feasibility report and recommendations from technical agencies.