The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to submit its expert review on the proposed second international airport for Bengaluru within the next three days, according to Karnataka Minister for Infrastructure Development M.B. Patil.
The AAI team recently evaluated two potential locations for the airport —
• Kanakapura Road in Bengaluru South
• Nelamangala–Kunigal Road in Bengaluru Rural
These site inspections were completed in April. The expert report will be placed before the state cabinet for discussion before a final decision is taken.
Speaking about the next steps, Minister Patil stated that land acquisition and a detailed feasibility study will follow once the location is approved. He clarified that the decision will not be arbitrary and will be made only after AAI’s recommendations and government consultations are completed.
The government has also taken into consideration the existing aviation regulation that restricts building another international airport within a 150 km radius of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) until 2033. The plan aims to ensure infrastructure is ready well before the deadline.
Patil noted that large aviation infrastructure projects typically require five to six years for completion after groundwork begins. With Delhi (Noida) and Mumbai (Navi Mumbai) already having two international airports each, Karnataka intends to follow a similar development model to support growing air traffic.
Passenger density, industrial expansion and future demand will be key deciding factors. Several legislators from North Karnataka have suggested Tumakuru as a suitable location, while others have proposed additional sites in South Bengaluru.
The minister also mentioned that the process will involve inputs from developers and reference to airport expansion plans in cities like Goa and Tamil Nadu — the latter being in proximity to Karnataka’s border at Hosur.
The state government emphasised that the final decision will be based on merit, travel convenience and long-term infrastructure planning, keeping Bengaluru’s future growth trajectory in mind.
