Bengaluru: In light of Bengaluru’s rapid growth as a global metropolitan city, M.B. Patil, the Minister for Infrastructure Development, held a discussion on Thursday regarding the construction of a second airport for the city.
During the meeting at Vidhana Soudha, where Dr Manjula, the Secretary of the Infrastructure Development Department, was also present, the Minister instructed the submission of a feasibility report for the new airport.
Minister Patil noted that Bengaluru International Airport is the third busiest airport in the country, following Delhi and Mumbai. Last year, the airport handled 37.5 million passengers and over 400,000 tonnes of cargo. He emphasised that a second airport is needed to efficiently manage the expected increase in both passenger traffic and freight in the coming years.
When the Devanahalli airport was established, the contract terms stipulated that no other airport could be constructed within a 150-kilometer radius until 2033. With nine years remaining under this agreement, the Minister stressed the need to start preparations now.
Patil explained that the current airport is projected to reach its peak passenger handling capacity by 2033 and its maximum cargo handling capacity by 2040.
Considering that land acquisition and compensation for landowners take a significant amount of time, Patil underscored the necessity of beginning work on the second airport immediately. He also highlighted the importance of second airport in order to develop an industrial ecosystem beyond Bengaluru.
Dr. B.C. Satisha, Managing Director of Karnataka state Industrial infrastructure development corporation, and D.P. Prakasha, Executive Director of KSIIDC, were among the officials present at the meeting.