Bangalore known as the silicon valley of India is growing rapidly in every aspect. With this expansion the number of people travelling to and from the city has significantly increased especially in the terms of air travel. The rise in passengers has necessitated the construction of a new international airport to accommodate the growing demand. As a result, the government is planning to build Bangalore’s second international Airport.
After a thorough inspection of seven to eight areas suggested by the IDEC organisation, a site near National Highway 75, between Nelamangala and Kunigal, has been selected for the airport’s construction. This location was chosen based on the technical criteria provided by the Airport authority of India.
Given the increasing pressure on the existing Kempegowda International Airport, and considering Bangalore’s rapid growth, 11 meetings have been held so far to discuss the development of the new airport. The most recent meeting took place last Friday, while a prior meeting, chaired by the deputy chief minister DK shivkumar, saw a presentation from IDEC and the Boston Consultancy Group.
Initially, there was consideration of building the new airport near Harohalli as it would serve the southern part of Bangalore. However this plan was ultimately dropped because the area which borders Tamil Nadu offers limited potential for future growth. On the other hand constructing the airport near Nelamangala offers several advantages including easier connections to Mysore road and Kanakapura Road. Additionally, existing infrastructure such as Nice Road, along with the proposed Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) and STRR road connectivity network, will benefit commuters from the southern part of Bangalore.
The search was focused on identifying an area within a 40 to 45 km radius of the city, with Nelamangala, located about 30 km away, emerging as the ideal site. The new airport area will start from the first toll on National Highway 75, offering direct connections to both the highway and the railway line. Moreover, the availability of a sufficient amount of government owned land will allow the project to proceed smoothly.
As the location now meets the 15 criteria necessary for establishing a new airport, the final decision will soon be made and the proposal will be forwarded to the Airport Authority of India for approval.