Hans News Service Bengaluru

TheKarnataka government has clarified that Tumakuru is not among the locations currently being considered for the proposed second airport for Bengaluru, with three sites shortlisted for further evaluation.

Industries Minister M B Patil gave the clarification in the Legislative Assembly while responding to a question raised by Tumakuru MLA Jyoti Ganesh. According to the minister, the government has shortlisted Somanahalli on the Kanakapura Road in Ramanagara district, Chudahalli on the Kanakapura Road in Ramanagara and Gudemaranahalli near Nelamangala for detailed consideration.

Harohalli is also being examined at the final stage, the minister said, indicating that the government has not yet made a final decision on the location of the proposed airport. The clarification comes amid demands from political leaders for an airport in Tumakuru. Earlier, Home Minister G. Parameshwara had advocated establishing the second airport in Tumakuru, citing the district’s growing industrial and economic importance. However, the government has pointed to restrictions under the Centre’s Greenfield Airports Policy. Patil said a new airport would normally not be permitted within a 150-km radius of an existing civil airport. If an airport is proposed within this distance, the impact of the new facility on the existing airport would have to be assessed separately. The Centre would take the final decision after examining the proposal and its likely impact, he said. The minister’s response also made it clear that the state government has no proposal to allocate funds for an airport in Tumakuru in the upcoming budget.

Since no Tumakuru airport project is currently under consideration, the question of earmarking funds for it does not arise, Patil said. The proposed second airport is being viewed as a long-term requirement for Bengaluru, considering the city’s expanding population, aviation traffic, industrial activity and limitations at Kempegowda International Airport.

With three locations now shortlisted and Harohalli undergoing further scrutiny, the government is expected to undertake detailed technical, environmental and connectivity assessments before arriving at a final decision.

The location of the second airport is likely to have a significant bearing on Bengaluru’s future transport infrastructure and regional development. The government’s decision is also expected to take into account road and rail connectivity, land availability, aviation requirements and the operational impact on the existing airport. For now, however, Tumakuru has been ruled out of the state’s shortlisted locations.