Bengaluru Second Airport: Karnataka Plans New International Airport in South Bengaluru to Ease Pressure on KIA

The Karnataka government is moving forward with plans to develop a second international airport in Bengaluru to address the rapidly increasing air traffic that has already begun to exceed the capacity of the existing Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). As per the latest report, the new airport is likely to come up in South Bengaluru, with areas along Kanakapura Road and Bannerghatta Road being considered as the preferred corridors.

South Bengaluru the Preferred Zone for Second Airport

The government's proposal to build the second Bengaluru airport in South Bengaluru is mainly because of its infrastructure and connectivity. As per reports, nearly 50% of KIA's passengers come from South Bengaluru, so it's an ideal location for a secondary aviation area.

South Bengaluru is home to dense residential zones like JP Nagar, Banashankari, Electronic City, and Bannerghatta and is currently underserved in terms of airport accessibility. Reaching Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli can take up to 2-3 hours during peak hours. A second airport closer to South Bengaluru would drastically reduce travel time for millions of residents.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already inspected three possible sites near Bengaluru: two near Harohalli, which include Chudahalli and Somanahalli off Kanakapura Road, and another near Nelamangala on Kunigal Road. However, the AAI report flagged certain challenges that need to be addressed before final approval. Despite the AAI's concerns, the Karnataka government is determined to move ahead.

Rising Demand for Air Connectivity

The demand for an additional airport in Bengaluru has been growing sharply. Kempegowda International Airport is already one of India's busiest, handling over 40 million passengers annually. Projections indicate that air traffic could double within the next decade, putting immense pressure on KIA's existing infrastructure. To accommodate this surge, the proposed second airport in South Bengaluru will help in such a situation.

Hosur Airport Competition Accelerates Karnataka's Plans

Adding urgency to Karnataka's project is Tamil Nadu's Hosur Airport, currently under development. Located close to the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, the new Hosur airport could attract a significant portion of passengers from southern Bengaluru if Karnataka does not move swiftly.

Industry experts believe that the South Bengaluru airport will help retain passenger traffic within Karnataka, boost tourism, and support the state's expanding IT, aerospace, and manufacturing sectors.

Project Cost and Timeline

According to reports, the proposed second international airport in Karnataka is estimated to cost around Rs 10,000 crore. The project will likely be developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, similar to KIA. According to officials, the new airport's planning and design will focus on sustainability, green operations, and connectivity with major highways such as NICE Road, Kanakapura Road, and NH 948. It will also be linked with future metro and suburban rail expansions to provide seamless access for passengers.