Bengaluru’s Second Airport Plans Gain Pace As Kanakapura Site Emerges Key Contender

Bengaluru's long-awaited second international airport is finally moving closer to reality. The Karnataka government is now considering combining the two shortlisted sites, Choodahalli and Somanahalli in the Kanakapura region, into a single, larger land parcel better suited for the project. DH reports suggest that the plan involves merging the two southern Bengaluru locations, along with nearby villages between Kunigal and Nelamangala near Tumakuru Road, to create an ideal site with fewer airspace restrictions and stronger connectivity.

To identify the most suitable location, the state government has appointed the Singapore-based Meinhardt-KPMG consortium to conduct a detailed technical and economic feasibility study of the proposed sites. The locations under evaluation include Choodahalli and Somanahalli on Kanakapura Road, along with a third site near Nelamangala. Preliminary discussions with the Infrastructure Development Department are already underway.

The Rs 4.96-crore study is expected to take around five months and will focus on four key areas: reviewing the Airports Authority of India's site feasibility assessment, evaluating technical feasibility, developing a strategic framework for site selection, and identifying the preferred location. The study will also include traffic demand analysis and future forecasting for all three proposed sites.

Environmental concerns are also being closely examined. Since Choodahalli and Somanahalli lie near Bannerghatta National Park, authorities are assessing the potential impact of aircraft noise and aviation activity on wildlife and the surrounding ecosystem. Obstacle Limitation Surface surveys will also be carried out to study high-rise buildings, residential developments, and hill formations that could interfere with aircraft operations.

The two shortlisted sites along Kanakapura Road reportedly span around 4,800 acres and 5,000 acres, respectively. "As there is more land available on the Kanakapura side, if the government chooses to look at it cumulatively, it allows for more leeway to perfectly carve out the 4,500-5,000 acres to build the proposed airport," a Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) official told Deccan Herald.

The official further noted that a southern Bengaluru airport would likely see stronger demand and offer better connectivity. "Some might argue that an airport in Nelamangala could benefit North Karnataka, but that is an unlikely scenario," he added.

Why Bengaluru Needs A Second Airport?

The demand for a second airport in Bengaluru has become increasingly urgent as the city's aviation traffic continues to surge. Although Kempegowda International Airport has expanded its capacity over the years, rising passenger and cargo volumes are expected to push it toward saturation in the coming years.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru's older aviation facility, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Airport, now handles only limited operations and lacks the scope for large-scale commercial expansion. As a result, the city remains heavily dependent on a single major airport, a model increasingly viewed as unsustainable for a metropolitan hub of Bengaluru's scale and economic significance.