Where will Bengaluru's second international airport be? AAI Team to assess sites

Bengaluru is moving closer to securing its long-awaited second international airport, as a team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) begins a crucial site inspection this week. The delegation will evaluate three proposed greenfield airport locations in Karnataka between April 7 and 9.

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Two of the shortlisted sites are located along Kanakapura Road, covering 4,800 and 5,000 acres respectively. The third, slightly larger at 5,200 acres, lies along the Nelamangala–Kunigal Road. The state government has assured the Centre of its readiness to allocate at least 4,500 acres for the project at any of these sites.

The inspection will include technical briefings by the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC), which is spearheading the planning. AAI officials will assess various critical factors including topography, climate patterns, transportation access, and potential environmental constraints such as waterbodies and terrain elevation. Supporting materials such as revenue records, satellite imagery, and Survey of India data will also be reviewed.

Industries Minister MB Patil reiterated the urgency of a second airport, citing rising passenger traffic and commercial needs. “With the 150-km airport exclusivity norm expiring in 2033, we are pushing ahead swiftly,” he said. The state has sanctioned ₹1.21 crore for the feasibility assessment, marking a significant step in Bengaluru’s aviation expansion.