The groundwork for the long-anticipated second worldwide greenfield airport for Bengaluru is gaining steam, with a multidisciplinary group from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) set to conduct a feasibility examine between April 7 and 9. Three potential websites—two on Kanakapura Street and one on the Nelamangala-Kunigal Street—have been shortlisted for the venture, Karnataka’s Infrastructure Improvement Minister M B Patil mentioned on Saturday.
The three shortlisted places are close to Chudahalli in Bengaluru City district, Bengaluru South taluk; close to Somanahalli in Bengaluru City district, Bengaluru South Taluk; and one close to Magadi-Nelamangala in Ramanagara district.
The Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Improvement Company (KSIIDC), the nodal company for the venture, has already paid Rs 1.21 crore to AAI for the feasibility evaluation. Talking from his residence in Bengaluru, Patil said that the federal government had formally requested the AAI on March 5 to examine and consider the recognized websites.
The feasibility examine will take a number of technical and environmental elements into consideration. The state authorities has ready intensive documentation to help the AAI group, together with, income maps of the shortlisted websites, ten years’ value of meteorological knowledge, detailed geographic assessments, together with photographs of the terrain, survey of India maps and operational feasibility reviews masking each Visible Flight Guidelines (VFR) and Instrument Flight Guidelines (IFR).
“We now have made all obligatory preparations to make sure a clean and complete examine,” Patil said, emphasising the significance of accelerating the venture.
Why Bengaluru wants a second airport
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Worldwide Airport (KIA) has been going through mounting passenger visitors strain, necessitating the necessity for a second airport. The airport’s Terminal 2, which grew to become totally operational in 2023, has helped handle rising visitors, however projections point out that capability might turn into inadequate within the coming years.
Presently, there’s a restriction that stops the development of one other airport inside a 150 km radius of Bengaluru till 2033. Nevertheless, with this situation set to run out quickly, the federal government is working to finalise plans and fast-track approvals. “If all the things proceeds as deliberate, the second airport could possibly be operational by 2033,” Patil said.
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Shira not a possible possibility
The minister additionally addressed calls from some quarters to assemble the brand new airport close to Shira in Tumkur. He dismissed this proposal, stating {that a} second airport situated removed from Bengaluru would serve extra as a district-level facility quite than a metropolitan hub.
“If an airport is in-built Shira, it’s going to perform just like the airports in Shivamogga or Vijayapura, which cater to regional wants quite than the calls for of a serious city middle. The second airport should be in shut proximity to Bengaluru to draw traders and guarantee financial feasibility,” he defined.
As soon as the AAI group completes its feasibility examine, the findings will play a vital position in figuring out probably the most appropriate location for the airport. The venture is anticipated to bear a number of rounds of approvals from state and central authorities earlier than building can start.
The demand for a second airport in Bengaluru has been below dialogue for a number of years, pushed by the speedy progress of KIA and the town’s increasing inhabitants and financial exercise.
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Bengaluru’s first airport, HAL Airport, served as the town’s main aviation hub for a number of many years earlier than operations shifted to KIA in Devanahalli in 2008. Since then, KIA has witnessed exponential progress, with passenger visitors surpassing pre-pandemic ranges and Terminal 2 opening in 2023 to ease congestion. Nevertheless, projections point out that KIA alone might not have the ability to deal with Bengaluru’s rising air visitors demand past 2033, necessitating plans for a second airport.
The federal government had reviewed the shortlisted websites based mostly on numerous parameters, together with land availability, environmental impression, accessibility, and connectivity to key infrastructure similar to roads, rail, and metro networks. IDEC (Infrastructure Improvement Company) had been tasked with conducting an in depth technical feasibility examine, and based mostly on its findings, a pre-feasibility report and improvement tips was ready and submitted to the centre.