Bengaluru’s plan for a second international airport is taking a decisive step forward. According to Infrastructure Development Minister M.B. Patil, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will soon submit its detailed assessment report after inspecting three potential sites earlier this year. The report, expected within days, will then be presented to the State Cabinet for review and approval.
Three Potential Locations Under Evaluation
AAI officials inspected two sites along Kanakapura Road and another along the Nelamangala–Kunigal stretch in April 2025. Minister Patil noted that the expert team might recommend multiple sites, but the final decision will depend on developers assessing the economic and technical feasibility of each location. The government emphasized that this process will be developer-driven rather than just land allocation.
KIA Nears Capacity as Demand Surges
The push for a second airport stems from Bengaluru’s rapidly increasing air traffic. Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is expected to handle 80–90 million passengers annually by the end of the decade, reaching its designed capacity well before 2033. Large-scale aviation projects typically require five to six years to complete, making this the ideal time to start groundwork for a new facility.
2033 Clause a Key Consideration
Under an existing agreement between Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, no new airport can operate within a 150 km radius of KIA until May 2033, its 25th anniversary. However, planning and preparatory work can begin before that, ensuring operations can commence soon after the restriction ends.
Learning from Delhi and Mumbai Models
Currently, only Delhi (Noida) and Mumbai (Navi Mumbai) have dual international airports. The Karnataka government plans to consult developers of these projects to learn from their experiences and avoid regulatory or logistical pitfalls.
The Road Ahead
With Tamil Nadu’s Hosur airport proposal also in play, Karnataka is keen to maintain its aviation edge. Once the AAI report is approved, the next steps will include site finalization, land acquisition, and developer engagement—marking the beginning of Bengaluru’s next big infrastructure leap.
