Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s proposal to reopen HAL Airport sparks mixed reactions

Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's recent suggestion to reopen Bengaluru's HAL Airport for civilian flights has reignited discussions on the city's infrastructure challenges. With increasing traffic congestion and high demand at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), located over 35 kilometers from the city, Shaw believes it makes sense to revitalize HAL Airport to ease the pressure on KIA.

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Shaw shared her views on social media, highlighting the benefits of utilizing HAL Airport, which is centrally located near Indiranagar, and noted that this could help alleviate the growing traffic burden on Bengaluru. She suggested that reopening HAL could cater to a portion of the current air traffic and that the roads surrounding the airport could be upgraded to accommodate the additional vehicles.

The response to her idea, however, was mixed. Many users expressed skepticism, with one questioning whether the existing infrastructure, such as HAL Road, could manage the increased traffic. Shaw addressed this concern, suggesting that road improvements would be part of the proposal.

HAL Airport had been Bengaluru’s main airport until 2008 when it ceased commercial operations after the opening of KIA. The closure was part of an agreement to grant KIA exclusive rights to handle passenger flights.

While some supporters of Shaw’s suggestion argued that HAL could manage up to 30% of KIA's traffic, others voiced concerns over the already overcrowded roads. The limited capacity of the airport, lack of expansion space, and potential traffic jams on Old Airport Road were also pointed out as significant drawbacks.